Head of Kyiv Oblast says power outages might last weeks

Oleksii Kuleba, Head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration, said that if the Russian army continues to attack energy infrastructure facilities, interruptions to power and heat supply might last several weeks at a time.

Source: Oleksii Kuleba in an interview with hromadske

Quote from Kuleba: "10 October was a turning point: the Russian army has started deliberately destroying our critical energy infrastructure. Our understanding is that Kyiv Oblast is taking the hit, but it is the city of Kyiv that is being targeted. The Russians are attacking it in order to cut off power in Kyiv.

Many people live here and these actions are contributing to a humanitarian crisis unparalleled in the past 70 years…

Our Oblast Military Administration is preparing for every possible scenario, including the toughest one. Local residents must also prepare; they must stockpile water and food and keep their phones fully charged."

Details: When asked whether a total blackout might occur, Kuleba said that it was possible: "Yes, if missile strikes on our energy infrastructure continue and our air defence systems are not able to protect it."

"If energy infrastructure sustains damage that might take up to two weeks to repair, then we will have to survive those two weeks [without power]. Depending on what damage is sustained, repair works can take more or less time," the Head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration explained.

He said that it is difficult to predict the effects of any further attacks.

"There is a real threat that we might have no power for up to two weeks. We are taking measures to prepare for such an event," Kuleba clarified.

He additionally admitted that "missile strikes on energy infrastructure might result in interruptions to the heat supply."

"There are 750 heating points in Kyiv Oblast to be used if that happens. They are equipped with generators; there are food supplies and a certain amount of water. These are shelters which will offer people safety and warmth. The State Emergency Service also has a number of mobile heating points," Kuleba said.

When asked whether the residents of Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast might be forced to spend three months without power, the Head of the Kyiv Oblast Military Administration said that "we will only be able to talk about this with any certainty once we understand the scale of what’s happened."

Around 400,000 households have been left without power following an emergency blackout that occurred in the wake of Russia’s most recent attack on Kyiv Oblast on 31 October. Kuleba said that rolling blackouts are currently scheduled in several hromadas in Kyiv Oblast, each lasting several hours.

The Head of the Oblast Military Administration additionally said that he has no information about the lack of equipment used to repair the damaged power plants.

"Regarding transformers: they can be manufactured in Ukraine. There is a certain amount of technical equipment which we will have to wait for for three months or even longer. But it doesn’t mean there is a lack of it. There’s nothing that can’t be replaced," Kuleba said.

Background:

• Russia has carried out a series of large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since 10 October; Kyiv Oblast has been significantly affected by these attacks.
• On 1 November, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that Ukraine has sufficient resources to repair the damaged infrastructure. He nevertheless encouraged Ukrainians to prepare for a difficult winter ahead and make sure they have stocked up on everything they might need.
• Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klychko said that around 1,000 mobile heating points will be set up in the city of Kyiv in winter in case of emergencies.

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