Ahead of the start of the 2026/2027 heating season, abnormally high demand for household firewood is being recorded in Ukraine. According to the state enterprise 'Ukrainian Forests' (LP 'Lesy Ukrainy'), the sale of firewood by the end of 2026 may reach a record 2.9–3 million cubic meters — significantly above the annual average of 2.2–2.6 million cubic meters that the enterprise consistently ships to citizens in ordinary years. An additional 300–400 thousand cubic meters are allocated annually to budgetary institutions: schools, hospitals, kindergartens, as well as units of the Security and Defense Forces of Ukraine.
Record shipment volumes
As of mid-September 2026, the branches of LP 'Ukrainian Forests' have already shipped nearly 1.9 million cubic meters of firewood to the population, and plan to harvest a further approximately 1 million cubic meters by the end of the year. The enterprise attributes the elevated demand to a combination of early start of harvesting and expectations of a harsh winter against the backdrop of ongoing strikes on energy infrastructure. For comparison: in 'quiet' years, the shipment of 1.9 million cubic meters was usually completed closer to November–December.
Prices and regional differentiation
As of 1 September 2026, the average price of one cubic meter of firewood for the population at the warehouses of LP 'Ukrainian Forests' branches is 1,252 UAH including VAT. Compared with the previous heating season, the cost has risen by an average of 12–15%. The enterprise links the price increase to rising costs of fuel and lubricants and of logging services. The cheapest firewood is sold in forested regions — in the Polissia, in the Carpathians, as well as in Chernihiv and Sumy oblasts, where prices range from 900 to 1,400 UAH per cubic meter depending on the species. In less forested oblasts — in the east, south, and Kirovohrad oblast — the cost is higher: from 1,000 UAH per cubic meter for softwood species to 1,700 UAH for hardwood. Delivery services are paid for separately by buyers. During the year, each citizen is entitled to order up to 15 cubic meters of firewood.
Which species Ukrainians choose
The traditional leader in demand remains hardwood species — oak, hornbeam, ash, beech and maple, since they burn longer and give off more heat. Pine, spruce and fir are also actively purchased, while linden, willow and aspen are in the least demand. According to the enterprise's estimates, heating a private home over a season typically requires from 5 to 12 cubic meters of firewood — depending on the size of the dwelling, the wood species and its moisture content.
How to buy firewood officially
Firewood can be purchased directly at forest districts, sub-districts and branches of LP 'Ukrainian Forests' — to do so, you need to contact them for details in your region. An alternative option is self-harvesting: for this, you must obtain a logging ticket for personal use by submitting an application to the local forest management office, specifying the purpose of use (heating) and the volume of wood required. For individuals, felling is permitted on specially designated plots with limited volumes.
Contradictory data
Open sources show discrepancies in the maximum prices for firewood. According to official data from LP 'Ukrainian Forests', the average price on 1 September 2026 is 1,252 UAH per cubic meter, with the upper regional limit reaching up to 1,700 UAH for hardwood. At the same time, a number of Ukrainian media outlets (in particular, Gazeta.ua) cite in their headlines and articles a price increase 'up to 4,500 UAH'. The difference is likely explained by the fact that the enterprise's official statistics reflect the warehouse price per cubic meter without accounting for delivery and the markups of private resellers, whereas in retail and 'grey' channels, and taking into account logistics in regions with shortages, the final cost to the consumer may be substantially higher. Readers should note that 1,252–1,700 UAH are the official prices of LP 'Ukrainian Forests', while the higher figures reflect retail market prices with delivery.
Context: preparing the energy system for winter
The rise in firewood demand is occurring against the backdrop of Ukraine's official preparation for the winter heating season. At the end of August 2026, Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Energy Denys Shmyhal stated that the country is preparing its energy system for winter, taking into account expected active strikes by Russia on energy facilities; to this end, protective measures are being strengthened and equipment is being stockpiled for the regions. In parallel, Ukrainians have access to a simplified procedure for applying for a housing subsidy — without collecting information on the household's income and asset situation, since the Pension Fund obtains all the necessary information from state registers. Taken together, these measures form a picture in which firewood remains one of the key backup heat sources for the private sector.
