Following overnight missile strikes on the capital's energy infrastructure, approximately 5,000 apartment buildings have been left without heating. About 70% of Kyiv residents have temporarily lost power supply. While authorities pledge to restore heating within two to three days, experts dismiss these timelines as unrealistic.
As reported by Hvylya, Oleg Popenko, chairman of the Union of Consumers of Utilities, discussed the situation in an interview with Yuriy Romanenko.
The expert explained that while draining water from the heating system is simple, refilling the coolant in 5,000 buildings is only feasible at above-freezing temperatures. In sub-zero conditions, this process would take at least two to three weeks, potentially longer. For context, the standard heating launch at the start of the season in Kyiv typically spans a month.
The issue is compounded by the critical state of infrastructure. Of the capital's 2,600 kilometers of heating mains, around 800 kilometers require immediate replacement, yet the city only replaces 50 kilometers annually. Many buildings have not seen capital repairs to their internal systems since 2012.
Attempting to pump hot water into frozen pipes carries a massive risk of rupture due to temperature differentials. Last winter in the Holosiivskyi district, a single pipe failure left 18–20 buildings disconnected for five days. The current challenge involves launching the system for 5,000 buildings simultaneously.
Klitschko's Controversial Statement
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko advised residents to seek locations with autonomous heat and power sources, effectively urging Kyivans to leave the capital for an indefinite period. Experts have criticized this approach, citing the lack of organized evacuation routes, reception centers, medical care for the elderly and disabled, or hot meal provision.
Moreover, a failure to meet deadlines for backup power sources has come to light. In the autumn of 2024, the Kyiv City State Administration announced the purchase of seven gas-piston units with a total capacity of 125 MW, scheduled for installation by December 31, 2024. However, utility department representatives have admitted that paperwork is still being processed, with connection and testing expected to take another six months. Backup sources for water utilities were only purchased in October 2025.
Personnel Shortages Worsen the Crisis
Management companies in Kyiv employ only 8–10 plumbers to launch heating in hundreds of buildings. In the Darnytskyi district alone, there are 560 such buildings. Each requires an individual approach: bleeding air from systems or accessing apartments, a third of which are rented out or vacant.
Residents are showing more responsibility than the authorities: some buildings have organized shifts, designated individuals responsible for draining water in every entrance, and established communication channels. However, this level of organization is far from universal.
Dnipro, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia: Cities Without Reserves
In Kryvyi Rih, nine boiler houses halted operations following strikes due to a lack of electricity. No backup power sources were provided for the city's utility facilities, despite some 400,000 residents being left without heat as early as November 17, 2024. Over the past year, Naftogaz failed to replace 70 kilometers of heating mains despite having the resources.
Dnipro is in a slightly better position thanks to a rapid response from the central government, which dispatched generators for water utilities and boiler houses. In Zaporizhzhia, mobile boiler houses were allocated by the central government in October and November, but installation will take at least six to eight months.
Kherson and Absurd Decisions
Following a series of strikes on the Kherson CHP plant, the head of the regional military administration appealed to volunteers for 6,000–8,000 electric heaters for the city's 40,000 residents. However, Kherson faces power outages of up to 16 hours a day, rendering heaters useless.
Sumy: Institutional Warfare
In Sumy, a conflict has erupted between Teploenergo and local authorities. Utility workers installed generators but refused to buy fuel, demanding funds from the city budget. The city allocated diesel, but organizational failures have resulted in indiscriminate cutoffs, including critical infrastructure.
Real temperatures in Sumy apartments hover around 12–14°C. Power outages last up to 12–14 hours daily, and 99% of apartment buildings lack backup power. Kyiv is currently approaching a similar scenario.
Poltava and Lviv: Governance Collapse
The Poltava Regional Military Administration removed "Poltavavodokanal"—which supplies water to 14 cities with a population of nearly 400,000—from the list of critical infrastructure objects. Instead, the list includes small police stations consuming under 100 kW per day.
In Lviv, a scandal broke out when hospitals lost power because the city council failed to include them in the critical infrastructure registry. Mayor Andriy Sadovyi complained about a water pipe dating back to 1905, despite having led the city for 16 years with a budget of 20 billion hryvnias.
Gas Situation: Alarm Bells
Underground gas storage facilities have come under attack, including a recent strike allegedly involving an "Oreshnik" missile. While the exact scale of damage remains undisclosed, strikes on gas compressor stations and storage facilities directly impact the system's ability to balance pressure and supply gas to CHPs and the private sector.
Over the last 18 months, strikes on gas infrastructure have been recorded in Zaporizhzhia, Lubny, Kharkiv, Sumy, as well as the Kyiv, Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv regions. However, the current management of Naftogaz began actively purchasing gas in July 2024—500–600 million cubic meters monthly—improving the situation compared to previous years.
Odesa Under Constant Threat
Power supply in Odesa was restored following the December 13 blackout, but the city remains a primary target. Frequent shelling of transformer substations could cut power again at any moment. The Odesa CHP is in critical condition, and boiler houses are operating at their limits.
Kharkiv: The Only Positive Example
Kharkiv stands out thanks to systematic preparations ongoing since 2022. The city has stockpiled generators and mobile boiler houses, and Naftogaz transferred a powerful gas turbine unit. The water utility is fully equipped with backup power.
When Kharkiv's CHP-5 was disabled, the system switched to alternative sources almost immediately. Residents are sharing photos of installed mobile boiler houses standing ready to be activated at a moment's notice.
National Catastrophe
Experts warn that Ukraine has reached a point of no return regarding its utility infrastructure. Any strike on a major city triggers a collapse that cannot be quickly fixed. Attacks have spanned from Uzhhorod to Chernivtsi, and from Kyiv to Odesa.
Regions where heating and water systems remain stable are critically scarce. Western regions fare slightly better due to electricity imports from Romania, but direct strikes on substations would equalize the situation.
Russian forces are timing attacks to coincide with freezing weather. Forecasts predict temperatures dropping to -20°C, potentially reaching -30°C by the end of next week. Under such conditions, restoring heating becomes technically arduous, if not impossible.
Experts urge Ukrainians to rely solely on themselves: prepare evacuation plans to relatives or friends, stock up on autonomous heating supplies, and coordinate with neighbors. Specialists advise against hoping for rapid solutions from the authorities.
We previously wrote about who will have to pay double for utilities.
