Heating Crisis Threatens Kyiv's Left Bank
Residents of Kyiv's Left Bank districts risk losing centralized heating entirely next winter. Oleg Popenko, head of the Union of Utility Services Consumers, has warned that critical damage to infrastructure, particularly the Darnytsia Combined Heat and Power Plant, along with the poor state of internal building networks, could leave the area without heat. This warning comes as Ukraine continues to rebuild its energy infrastructure following widespread destruction.
Infrastructure Damage and Logistical Failures
Popenko stated that over a thousand apartment buildings in the Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts are currently without heat. At the current pace of repair work, these areas could remain without heating for one or two more winters. The expert further noted that more than 300 buildings have damaged internal networks, including sewage, heating, and water supply systems.
'Darnytskyi and Dniprovskyi districts—these 1,140 buildings currently without heat will definitely be without heating next winter. Unless our energy workers perform a miracle... Theoretically, they could do the work in 6-8 months and at least temporarily launch something... But that would be a heroic feat. I don't see any real results yet, nor who will do it and when.'
— Oleg Popenko
Popenko also highlighted the absence of an official register of damaged buildings on the Kyiv City State Administration's website, which complicates resolving the crisis. 'There are many buildings with damaged internal networks... But in Kyiv, there isn't even a register of damaged buildings, no official register on the KCSA site. What questions can we ask them if they still can't even create this register?' Popenko concluded.
The situation on Kyiv's Left Bank requires an urgent solution, as the comfort and safety of thousands of residents depend on it. The lack of a proper damage registry hinders the recovery process and could lead to increased social tension. The central heating problem is becoming increasingly urgent with the prospect of another harsh winter, underscoring the need for immediate action from local authorities and energy companies.