As the cold approaches and the threat of new attacks on the energy infrastructure looms, Ukrainian cities may face the risk of municipal collapse. In severe frosts and the absence of heating, high-rise buildings risk turning into uninhabitable ice traps in just two days.
Disadvantages and possible consequences
Housing and utility expert Oleg Popenko warns that at -20°C, panel buildings can cool down within 36-48 hours, which may lead to the rupture of heating systems due to water freezing in the pipes.
'A multi-apartment building, a panel one, cools down at -20°C within 36-48 hours. After 48 hours, if the weather forecast shows that the low temperature will persist for a week, for example, water must be drained. Otherwise, it will be like in Alchevsk, where everything completely froze,' the expert emphasized.
What needs to be done
To avoid a humanitarian disaster, immediate preparation and command-staff exercises at the sites are necessary. This requires a large number of specialists, who are currently insufficient. It is crucial to determine the timelines and the number of people who will be involved in draining water, to train workers, and to check readiness for actions in each city.
Inaction on this issue may lead to tragic consequences, so each city must respond immediately and prepare for possible collapse of the housing stock amid war and instability.
As the cold approaches, the threat of municipal collapse in Ukrainian cities increases due to the possible freezing of heating systems in high-rise buildings. Experts urge immediate measures and preparations to prevent similar situations that can have serious consequences for residents.