Critical Situation in Odesa
Odesa is in a critical state due to massive Russian strikes on the energy system, leaving the city without electricity, water, and heat. Experts discuss the risks of similar situations for other major cities in Ukraine. According to Andrii Zakrevskiy, Deputy Director of the Association of Energy and Natural Resources of Ukraine, such a situation in Odesa arose due to the specific configuration of the network.
The situation in Odesa raises concerns as there is a risk of similar catastrophes occurring in other cities. Ihor Tynnyi, a businessman and founder of the holding 'Hydroenergoinvest-Aquanova', notes that in wartime, it is impossible to give 100% guarantees of safety. He also emphasizes that
“everything that some people have built, others can destroy”— pointing to the vulnerability of infrastructure.
Risk Factors for Cities in Ukraine
Roman Zinchyenko, co-founder of the Greencubator platform, noted that the risk of repeating the Odesa scenario will remain real for any region. Experts highlight three risk factors for the survival of cities this winter:
- the intensity of enemy strikes,
- the effectiveness of air defense,
- the availability of backup generation.
These aspects become critically important under constant threat from the aggressor, and they must be taken into account when planning security measures for cities in Ukraine.
The situation in Odesa is a troubling signal for the entire country, as the vulnerability of energy infrastructure could lead to large-scale humanitarian crises in the event of further attacks. Authorities and experts must focus their efforts on strengthening the protection system to avoid the repetition of such scenarios in other cities. This issue is not only about technical preparedness but also about strategic planning to ensure stability and safety for the population in wartime.