China has completely halted electricity purchases from Russia during the reporting window from 6:15 AM to 9:15 AM UTC on January 16, 2026, as Russian export prices exceeded domestic Chinese prices for the first time, rendering imports economically unviable, according to Kommersant as reported by Nexta_tv on X. Nexta_tv cited Kommersant in a post shared within the three-hour period ending at 9:15 AM UTC, stating that the price disparity marks the first instance where Russian electricity exports to China are no longer competitive. No further details on the exact timing of the halt, volume of prior purchases, or immediate impacts were provided in the source published during this window.
