The situation regarding the electricity supply in Kyiv and a number of regions across Ukraine remains extremely difficult following massive Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure. Residents of the capital and the Kyiv region report power cuts lasting over 30 hours, whilst in some homes, they say, there has been no electricity for more than a day and a half. Prolonged power cuts are also being recorded in the Chernihiv region. Due to damage to the grid, the energy authorities have been forced to impose emergency restrictions, under which normal supply schedules do not apply.
Briefly about the main points
- Residents of Kyiv and the Kyiv region report power cuts lasting more than 30 hours.
- In the Desnianskyi district of the capital, some homes have been without power for up to 37 hours, according to residents.
- In Obolon, the power was restored in some places for just 30–40 minutes.
- In the Chernihiv region, power cuts lasting over 19 hours have been reported in certain settlements.
- Following a brief lifting of the emergency restrictions, DTEK reintroduced them on 4 November.
In Kyiv, some homes have been without electricity for more than a day and a half
After large-scale attack Following Russia’s attack on the Ukrainian power grid on 3 November, Kyiv experienced prolonged emergency power cuts. On Wednesday, 4 November, DTEK announced that it had not yet been possible to return to stable hourly schedules in the capital.
Most complaints are coming from residential estates where the power supply has not been restored even after the time specified in the previous schedules has elapsed.
In particular, residents of the Desnianskyi district report that some homes were without electricity for up to 37 hours straight. In some of these homes, the water supply was cut off at the same time as the electricity.
The situation in Obolon also remains tense. According to residents, some buildings have been without electricity for almost two days, and in some cases the problems with restoring the supply have now been going on for four days.
These figures are based on reports from residents. There is currently no official statement from DTEK confirming the duration of the power cut at each of the buildings mentioned.
On Ivasyuk Avenue, the lights were only on for half an hour
The situation has become particularly acute in certain blocks of flats on the avenue Volodymyr Ivasyuk in the Obolon district.
In local communities, residents report that after 10–12 hours without electricity, power was restored for just 30–40 minutes. After that, the power was cut off again.
Similar reports have been received regarding buildings Nos. 26, 44, 55 and other addresses on the avenue. Residents are complaining not only about the duration of the power cuts, but also about the uneven restoration of the electricity supply: neighbouring buildings may have power, whilst others remain without electricity.
This situation may arise due to the various ways in which buildings are connected to the electricity grid, localised damage to equipment and the need to limit the load on individual lines.
For residents of buildings where cooking, heating or water supply depend on electricity, even a brief restoration of power does not solve their everyday problems.
Kyiv and Chernihiv regions: power cuts are exceeding the scheduled times
Reports are also coming in from the Kyiv region of a power cut lasting more than 30 hours. The situation is particularly difficult in parts of the Bucha and Fastiv districts, where, in addition to the system-wide restrictions, localised incidents have occurred.
In Irpin, according to local residents, some homes were without electricity for around 20 hours straight. The restoration of power was delayed even during periods when, according to previously published schedules, the electricity should already have been back on.
In the Chernihiv region, residents of certain settlements have reported power cuts lasting over 19 hours. In early November, around 7,500 customers in Chernihiv city itself were left without electricity following a fault on a cable line. Additional emergency restrictions had previously been introduced in the Nizhyn and Pryluky districts.
At the same time, reports of 19, 20 or 30 hours without power relate to specific addresses and do not mean that all consumers in the relevant towns or regions were without electricity for that length of time.
Why do emergency power cuts last longer than scheduled?
The sharp deterioration in the situation was caused by Russian forces’ attacks on power generation facilities, high-voltage substations and electricity transmission infrastructure.
Due to damage to equipment, the power system has lost some of its capacity to transmit electricity between regions. Furthermore, nuclear power stations have been forced to reduce their output, as the damaged grids do not allow the electricity generated to be fully transmitted to consumers.
During emergency power cuts, dispatchers restrict consumption depending on the actual state of the grid. Consequently, previously published hourly schedules may not be adhered to, and the exact time of power restoration remains unknown.
Throughout 4 November, the situation changed several times. At around 13:00, emergency power cuts were lifted in Kyiv and the Kyiv region, but by 15:14 DTEK announced their reintroduction on the instructions of Ukrenergo.
At the same time, the capital’s services are restoring the water supply, which was also affected by the power cut to the infrastructure. In areas where the centralised water supply is not yet operational, plans are in place to connect drinking fountains to generators.
