Kyiv and Odesa could be left without heating this winter — details
Kyiv and Odesa are at risk of losing heat due to potential strikes on energy generation.
Heating / © iStock
Ukraine has sufficient fuel reserves for the heating season, but the biggest threat remains possible Russian attacks on thermal power plants in certain cities, with Kyiv and Odesa being the most vulnerable.
Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Research Center, said this in a comment to Ukrinform.
According to Kharchenko, Ukraine’s decentralized fuel supply system provides strong protection. The country has access to European and global markets.
"Ukraine has a unique, fully decentralized system. We can trade on the fly and supply the entire country with gasoline, diesel, and everything else needed. Fortunately, Europe is behind us, and we can import from almost anywhere — from the U.S. or the Middle East," the expert said.
At the same time, Kharchenko emphasizes that electricity supply could be most critical in major cities located far from the frontlines.
"Unfortunately, there are regions significantly more vulnerable than others. The most at-risk areas outside the frontline are Odesa and Kyiv. These are two very energy-deficient regions," he explained.
He identified thermal power generation in individual cities as the greatest threat, warning that Russia could try to leave cities without heat during winter.
"The only part of the energy system that worries me today is thermal generation in specific cities. There, the barbarians could really decide to deprive cities of heat in winter — and that is the greatest danger," Kharchenko added.
Despite the risks, emergency teams now work faster than at the start of the full-scale invasion. With international support, Ukraine has built the necessary reserves to get through the winter without widespread blackouts.