Dark times: what blackouts will lead to in Ukraine

Ukraine has a severe energy crisis, which is aggravated by the fact that most of the country is covered by real winter frosts. President Vladimir Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in this regard. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that about 400 apartment buildings have been completely without heat and electricity for several days. Izvestia investigated the situation.

To zero and back

The Russian Ministry of Defense has been regularly reporting on attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities lately. At the same time, the ministry invariably emphasizes that the fire is directed at the infrastructure used by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Traditionally, it is noted that tactical aircraft, attack drones and missile forces are used to carry out attacks.

On January 16, the Minister of Energy of Ukraine Denis Shmygal announced that there was not a single whole power plant left in the country. According to him, the most difficult situation is in Kiev, Odessa region and the frontline regions. He also noted that some cities had "completely failed" preparations for winter, and therefore the government would soon have to increase light imports from the European Union.

The situation on the ground looks extremely difficult. So, in Kiev on January 9, a large-scale blackout was reported. The mayor of the city, Vitali Klitschko, said that six thousand apartment buildings were left without heat, that is, half of the entire housing stock. "I appeal to those residents of the capital who have the opportunity to temporarily leave to a place where there are alternative sources of electricity and heat, do it," said the mayor.

Four days later, on January 13, an almost complete blackout occurred. "This is the first time in four years that such a scale has been achieved. There is not enough electricity even to provide critical infrastructure. The power engineers are working, but the situation is very difficult," Klitschko said. The situation was aggravated by the fact that Ukraine was covered by real winter frosts, at night the temperature in Kiev drops to minus 15 degrees.

As of January 16, several hundred houses in Kiev remain without heating, many residents post photos of thermometers on social networks that show zero temperature. In addition, in many houses, the utilities did not drain the water from the pipes, the communications cracked or burst in the cold, which means that further heating will not appear under any circumstances.

Heating with bricks

It is noted that 1,200 "points of invincibility", that is, heated tents, have been equipped in Kiev to solve problems. Warm wagons are installed on railway tracks. The authorities have relaxed the curfew conditions so that people can get warm at night. "It is allowed to leave without special passes and use transport to get to heating points," announced Denis Shmygal, head of the Ministry of Energy.

On social networks, residents of the city share their heating methods. One of the users writes that multi-layered clothes have become the norm at home. "We sleep in warm pajamas, a hat and socks, and wrap ourselves in several blankets. Some build "fortresses" out of mattresses, others put a camping tent right in the room, all this helps to create an enclosed space in which the body heats the air faster," she notes.

Original know-how has also become popular. So, refractory bricks and old cast-iron irons have become widespread, they are heated on a stove in the presence of gas, and then placed in rooms to give off heat. Generators, heaters and thermal underwear are in high demand, of course.

There are thousands of comments on the social networks of the energy company DTEK, most of all the dissatisfaction is caused by the fact that some houses receive light and heating for themselves, while others are deprived of the benefits of civilization. "I understand that it's an emergency, but why is the neighboring house constantly on fire, and we're only allowed for a few hours at night? Today we have nothing again, but everyone around us has. No fair distribution, absolute inequality," writes Olga Medvedeva, one of the users.

In response, the power engineers explain that they are forced to turn off the networks that are in danger of an accident. "Other networks can stay on if their shutdown is not critically necessary at that moment. This helps to quickly reduce the load and stabilize the situation," DTEK notes. Ordinary users, however, believe that the whole thing is either corruption or a mess.

Sergey Kovalenko, CEO of the Yasno energy company, explains that there are two main problems in general. "Firstly, generation is in short supply: national consumption consistently exceeds production capacity. Secondly, there are network restrictions, that is, it is impossible to transfer sufficient electricity. In Kiev, there is just a mix of these factors," he emphasizes.

Against this background, President Vladimir Zelensky declared a state of emergency in the country. He also got into an altercation in absentia with Vitali Klitschko, whom he accused of Kiev's unpreparedness for the energy crisis. "The city authorities have lost time, and now at the government level they will correct what has not been done at the city level," he said. In response, Klitschko stated that he honestly warns citizens about problems, without fear of a collapse in ratings.

What the experts say

Former Verkhovna Rada deputy Spiridon Kilinkarov emphasizes that Kiev has the worst situation among all Ukrainian cities with millions.

— In fact, not a single thermal power plant is operating, there is no electricity for 20 hours, about 300-400 houses remain without heat carriers. Spontaneous protest actions take place periodically. They are mainly related to injustice, when some houses are dark and cold, in other places there is not only light and warmth, but even street lighting is on. In general, there is a large shortage of electricity, there is nothing to fill it with, there are not enough autonomous heat carriers and generators," he explains.

Political analyst Alexander Dudchak says that the situation is extremely difficult.

— There is no light, there is no heat, there is no hot water. Those who have gas stoves are also lucky, with their help you can somehow keep warm, you can fry bricks. If there is an electric stove in the apartment, then only ten layers of clothing will help. I notice a serious dissatisfaction with my own power. They talk about the weak protection of energy facilities, they recall the golden toilets that corrupt officials bought for themselves instead of taking care of the CHP," he assures.