Kyiv Official Comments on Widespread Heating Outages
Valentyn Mondriievskyi, Deputy Head of the Kyiv City State Administration, has addressed the capital's heating crisis, confirming that damage to internal building systems has left more than 1,100 residential buildings without heat. The primary cause of this damage is the freezing of pipes in districts where water was not drained from the systems in time or where the network design makes a complete drainage impossible.
Mondriievskyi identified the districts suffering the most significant damage:
- Pecherskyi
- Darnytskyi
- Parts of Holosiivskyi
He noted that while these buildings lack heating, their cold water supply remains functional. Repair work is scheduled to begin after the current frost subsides. However, according to forecasts from the owner of the Darnytsia Thermal Power Plant (TPP), a partial restoration of heating could take at least two months.
The damage to the Darnytsia TPP resulted from massive Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. The plant is owned by the limited liability company 'Euro-Reconstruction'. Mondriievskyi emphasized that in cases where heat could not be restored, utility workers attempted to avoid cutting electricity so residents could use electric heaters.
'We will try to work as fast as possible to be ready for the next heating season,' - Valentyn Mondriievskyi.
The Critical Need for Restoration
The heating situation in Kyiv presents a severe challenge, compounded by the ongoing war's relentless strain on critical infrastructure. This crisis underscores the vulnerability of urban systems during conflict. Restoring heat after the winter freeze will be a paramount task for local authorities, especially given Ukraine's harsh winters. Swift and effective measures are crucial to returning basic comfort to the capital's residents, for whom reliable electricity remains a vital lifeline for home heating.