Expert warns of risk of power outage cycle in Kyiv this winter

Threat of a repeating blackout cycle

This winter season, the capital of Ukraine may find itself in a closed loop where power outages alternate with emergency repair works and subsequent network restoration. Energy Research Centre director Oleksandr Kharchenko described such a scenario, according to The Wall Street Journal.

According to the expert, Russian strikes have caused significant long-term damage to Kyiv's energy system. As early as last year, the capital's generating capacities suffered serious damage, and new attacks only complicate the process of restoring infrastructure.

«Ця зима пройде по замкнутому колу: відключення електроенергії, аварійні ремонтні роботи, відновлення — і знову відключення» (This winter will pass in a closed loop: power outages, emergency repair works, restoration — and outages again), Kharchenko noted.

Consequences for utility services

As the publication notes, power supply disruptions in Kyiv are becoming increasingly frequent. Due to electricity problems, difficulties with water supply also arise in certain districts.

Anxiety among residents

Approximately 3 million residents of Kyiv are preparing for a difficult winter against the backdrop of a full-scale war that has been going on for almost 5 years. Constant outages and uncertainty regarding the stability of utility services provision intensify anxiety among city dwellers. Some of them are already considering the possibility of temporarily leaving the capital.