Ukraine-Russia Energy War: Ukraine’s USF says it hit 27 electrical substations in Crimea and the occupied south (Aug 17–22), disabling 267 energy nodes since July 1, while also striking fuel storage at Russia’s Yeysk terminal. Storm-Driven Grid Stress: Belarusian power workers shifted to intensified operations as cyclone “Priska” brought 27 m/s gusts, with outages reported in 148 settlements and 185 emergency brigades deployed. Household Efficiency Payoff: A UK homeowner reports major bill cuts after adding solar, a battery, and a heat pump—dropping costs from about £230/month to £70/month. Nuclear Dependence Warning: Russia’s foreign ministry warns Armenia faces higher energy dependence after the planned closure of Metsamor NPP, which it says supplies ~30% of electricity. EU Windfall Tax Push: Six EU countries urge an EU-wide windfall tax on oil firms, arguing crisis profits should be returned to consumers. Grid Reliability in Ghana: Ghana’s energy minister says Akosombo’s damaged control system will be restored by Sept 2026, ending a temporary relay-based setup blamed for recent outages. India Renewables Tender: NTPC Renewable Energy won 500 MW in SECI’s assured peak supply tender at ₹6/kWh. UK Long-Duration Storage Funding: The UK launched a £28m Ultra-LDES Challenge targeting clean power storage for 100+ hours. Energy Bills Politics (UK/Scotland): Scotland’s minister urges stronger UK action on household bills as the price cap is expected to rise again.**