How Are Ukrainians Coping With Russia’s Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Grid?

For Ukrainians, talk of an energy truce doesn’t mean one is coming.

As US President Donald Trump touted an immediate energy ceasefire, blackouts persisted across parts of Ukraine as Moscow continues pounding Ukraine’s energy grid – the rumored deal covers refineries only, while Kyiv insists on a bilateral truce that also protects the grid.

But for Ukraine, power is only half the problem.

Some luckier than others

While Kyiv residents interviewed by Kyiv Post reported blackouts of varying intensity, people in other regions, from Odesa and Mykolaiv in the south, to Ternopil in the west, said they had yet to experience major disruptions.

In Kharkiv to the east, blackouts appear to be a limited problem.

“In October, the lights were turned off twice: the first time for about an hour, the second time from the morning until exactly 4 p.m.,” Maksym, a 39-year-old PhD student, told Kyiv Post.

But back in the capital, blackouts have been “almost daily” in October for Khrystyna, a 27-year-old head of sales who works remotely.

“Currently, they last up to five hours at a stretch,” she told Kyiv Post.

Kateryna, a 34-year-old data scientist, reported similar problems – which were complicated by Russia’s attacks on bridges spanning the river that cuts through the Ukrainian capital.

“I had initially planned to work from an energy-independent office on Kyiv’s right bank during power outages. However, since I live on the left bank, attacks on the bridges raised concerns about whether I would even be able to get to the office,” she told Kyiv Post.

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But some in Kyiv are luckier, such as Oleksandr Burdeinyi, a 20-year-old creative marketing manager, who said blackouts haven’t been as severe for him as for his friends, because of nearby critical infrastructure.

“I got lucky living near critical infrastructure – only two power cuts in the last two weeks. Meanwhile, most of my friends and family are dealing with daily blackouts,” he told Kyiv Post.

Ukrainians are no stranger to blackouts due to Russian attacks – in the summer of 2024, as temperatures soared above 30°C (86°F), Russia took out over half of Ukraine’s power-generation capacity.

Then, in the winter of 2025-26, Russia targeted more power plants and heating systems, sending household temperatures to single digits in subzero conditions.

Now, Ukrainians are bracing for similar situations – but worse.

Vadym, a 37-year-old operations director at a company that maintains and oversees boiler rooms and utility systems at 60 buildings and residential complexes in Kyiv, said he has already received numerous requests this month.

“Autumn 2026 has brought many of the same challenges for the utility sector, and we have already received numerous emergency service requests throughout October,” he said.

Water supplies at risk

Almost everyone Kyiv Post interviewed voiced concerns about water supplies in Kyiv and beyond.

“I’m worried about poor mobile coverage and water supply issues. I reckon a complete freeze in the water supply would spell an inevitable disaster,” said Sara, a 24-year-old business analyst in southern Ukraine’s Odesa.

Oleksii Masaltsev, a 44-year-old sound engineer from Khorostkiv in western Ukraine’s Ternopil region, said he is also bracing for water shortages despite experiencing no major blackouts so far.

“I’m preparing for this by stocking up on water, power banks and a charging station,” he told Kyiv Post.

In Kyiv, two months before the cold spell, authorities reported disruptions to water supplies. They urged locals to stock up on food and water on Sunday, Oct. 11, after a Russian attack left over half of Kyiv’s households without running water.

Without power, the water pumps can’t run – meaning there’s no water to flush the toilet, as Kyiv residents told Kyiv Post during the previous winter.

“As last year, power outages are causing a range of problems for the buildings we maintain… and in some cases, sewage pumping stations also shut down, disrupting the drainage system,” Operations Director Vadym explained.

Some in Kyiv are bracing for similar conditions.

“I also plan to buy a portable shower, a metal bucket that can be heated on a stove, a portable washbasin, and an electric blanket that can run on power from a portable battery or power bank,” Kateryna said.

A blackout is one thing; not having running water is another.

“We’ve gotten somewhat used to living without electricity – you can buy rechargeable lamps or other light sources. But living without water would be nearly impossible,” Khrystyna said.

Food security threatened

As Kyiv and Moscow go tit-for-tat with strikes on logistics warehouses, Ukraine’s food and medicine supplies have become the latest victims as pharmaceutical warehouses have also been targeted.

And getting enough food for winter is a concern for some.

“What I fear most is food shortages, as the enemy has already started targeting food storage facilities,” 20-year-old Burdeinyi told Kyiv Post.

‘Substantial workforce’ needed for repairs

Vadym, speaking from his experience at a utility service company, said not everything can be fixed at once.

“Once the power comes back on, a technician often has to visit the building in person to restart the equipment. This creates logistical and communication challenges for a company like ours, especially when outages affect multiple buildings simultaneously,” he said.

Then comes the workforce issue, as many Ukrainian men are mobilized to defend the country.

“The average age of our plumbers and electricians is over 60, and training younger specialists takes considerable time,” he continued.

“The vocational schools we have approached have struggled to provide graduates with the practical skills we need. Qualified specialists are increasingly difficult to find, and in some highly specialized roles, there are very few left in the labor market,” he added.

The temporary solution, he said, is training residents to do some of the work.

“To ease the workload on our staff, we ask homeowners’ associations to appoint a technically skilled resident and provide them with additional training,” he said.

“This allows residents to handle minor equipment problems and restart systems after scheduled power outages, reducing the need to call our emergency repair teams.”

How citizens are coping

Almost everyone has some form of backup power to keep the essentials running.

“I’ve had fiber-optic broadband installed, my flat’s on the sunny side, and I’ve got plenty of power banks,” Sara in Odesa said.

“Yes, we have a portable power station to keep the internet running and charge our work devices. We also have several flashlights and a supply of water for household needs,” Khrystyna in Kyiv said.

In Kharkiv, Maksym said the situation is likely better than in Kyiv, though he and his family are prepared nonetheless.

“The situation with light and heat is traditionally better in Kharkiv than in Kyiv. But my family and I are, of course, preparing for the winter as best we can: We bought power banks, and use a stove with a gas cylinder to cook if there is no light for a long time,” he said.

But portable power stations can be costly. A Chinese-made Marstek Venus E, with enough capacity to keep a house running for over 24 hours under normal use, costs over Hr. 61,990 ($1,376) – with prices sure to rise as demands surge in winter.

Kateryna in Kyiv said she has resorted to installments to get a smaller power station.

“I… had to find a way to secure a reliable power supply at home as quickly as possible. I ordered a BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 portable power station with a 2,600-watt output and a 2,073 watt-hour capacity,” she said.

“Like many Ukrainians, I couldn’t afford such a major purchase upfront, so I had to buy it on an installment plan.”

Some are considering leaving Kyiv.

“My winter and blackout prep is basically just planning to move out of Kyiv next month. I honestly think living and working here under these conditions is going to be extremely tough,” Burdeinyi said.

But elsewhere in Ukraine, some are also playing a game of wait and see.

“It will be possible to assess the situation once it happens, but the outlook is troubling. What worries me most is a possible energy collapse,” Yurii, a 63-year-old geologist in southern Ukraine’s Pervomaysk, Mykolaiv region, told Kyiv Post.

How the government can help

This question has taken on new urgency after President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv was lagging behind other regions – including frontline areas – in implementing its resilience plan. He warned that even a single Shahed strike can leave a significant part of the capital without power and water, and said decisions were being prepared on protecting critical infrastructure and changing how Kyiv is managed.

Asked about how they think the authorities could help brace their cities for the unforgiving winter, many interviewed by Kyiv Post mentioned Ukraine’s “Points of Invincibility” – tents erected nationwide that provide shelter, power and warm drinks to locals.

“Increase the number of resilience points, rather than shifting this responsibility onto businesses, such as the situation where everyone goes to the Nova Poshta post office to dry their hair,” Sara said, recalling previous blackouts.

“Develop resilience centers with electricity supplies, backup internet and stocks of drinking water. Implement anti-corruption reforms, despite the war,” Masaltsev in western Ukraine’s Ternopil region said.

Others emphasized the need to provide water supplies when the pumps fail.

“If water stops flowing to homes, I believe local authorities should ensure access to it in every district or neighborhood,” Khrystyna in Kyiv said.

“For instance, they should equip public water kiosks with backup power, as they currently rely on electric pumps… People need water for basic household needs, even if it isn’t potable.”

Khrystyna said water supplies should be provided via the “Points of Invincibility” as well.

Some also called for the government to decentralize the energy and heating system – an ongoing discussion since 2024 – while ensuring backup power at critical facilities.

“Perhaps it would be wise to set up small, autonomous boiler houses – each serving a few buildings – and equip them with backup power,” Khrystyna said, adding that it would ensure a single attack can’t cut off supplies to entire districts.

“It would probably be a good idea to look into alternative power sources, ensuring generators for boiler rooms and backup power for the water supply,” Sara added.

“Local authorities could be doing much more to develop decentralized energy systems, install cogeneration units, and provide backup power for critical infrastructure,” Kateryna in Kyiv said.

But Vadym noted that households can also help prepare buildings for cold spells, as Kyiv Post covered during the past winter.

“Some associations in Kyiv have also installed rooftop solar panels through grant programs and municipal co-financing schemes, helping their buildings become more energy-independent,” he said.

“Combined with other upgrades to building utility systems, these measures can significantly improve a building’s resilience and help it get through the winter, even if the city’s power grid suffers a complete collapse.”

And older buildings, Vadym said, can sometimes function when the grid fails – if local authorities do their job.

“Older residential buildings can sometimes continue operating without electricity, provided that the district pumping stations supplying them with cold water and central heating have backup power,” he said.

“Ensuring these facilities have reliable backup power is the responsibility of municipal authorities.”