Ukrainians told how they survive in the darkness after a strong hurricane: “We bought candles”

Residents are preparing in advance for frost without light and heat

In Ukraine, 14 regions of the country and more than 300 thousand people were left without electricity. The Ukrainian authorities cite the hurricane that happened the day before as the reason, but Ukrainians themselves are afraid that with the onset of frost, even the slightest weather disaster risks turning into a blackout for the country. It’s all about the outdated and still unrestored energy infrastructure. “MK” found out how Independence is ready for the cold weather.

A difficult winter is predicted for Ukraine. The power supply, destroyed a year ago by missiles and UAVs, has not yet been restored. There is a month left before winter, and the frosts, as they say, are “staring in the forehead,” which means that the people of Kiev and residents of other Ukrainian cities will again have to remember icy apartments, electricity on schedule, as well as “Points of Indestructibility” and all the incidents associated with them. The bad weather no longer spares the Ukrainians, but so far there has been strong wind and rain, which, however, was enough to plunge the country into darkness, and with the onset of cold weather, the weakened energy system is at risk of failure.

At the same time, the Ukrainian media space is increasingly trying to convince the country’s residents that the energy sector is remarkably ready for winter, which Ukrainians themselves do not really believe.

“Judging by the latest news that the money allocated for restoration work is being transferred to accounts abroad, and repairs have not even begun, the energy sector is not ready for a cold winter,” reports the Ukrainian Telegram channel “Sheptun.”

Ukrainian experts also recognize the problem. In addition to the deterioration of communications (for example, pipelines have not been repaired for years) and substations that have not yet been restored, there is a big problem with resources. “The big problem we have is thermal energy; it is mostly coal. There is a green transition going on in the world, and no donor wants to help restore coal generation, especially when everything is extremely corrupt in our private hands,” Alexander Kharchenko, director of the Center for Energy Research, shared his sad forecast on Ukrainian radio.

First of all, people are concerned about the work of the city’s transport system, as well as the lack of electricity in their apartments. The demand for gas and diesel generators, for which there was a rush last winter, is also increasing again. These devices can autonomously generate electrical energy, and you can buy them in stores or by hand, but you will have to pay a lot of money. The price of gasoline generators starts from 20,000 (51,000 rubles) hryvnia, and varies depending on the model. With the approach of cold weather, the theft of valuable equipment, which Ukrainians have also encountered, will inevitably increase, as well as the abandonment of familiar technologies – it will not be possible to pay for purchases with a card in a de-energized shopping center. Residents of Independence also do not like corruption among city officials. In the Kyiv administration, for example, instead of preparing for cold weather, they deal exclusively with those matters that bring money to the officials themselves.

“Guys, this is all sad,” says Kyiv resident Denis Anikeenko on social networks. – In Russia, they are preparing new missiles and drones for us for the winter, building and modernizing factories, and in our capital they are once again relaying tiles, repairing completely intact roads and brazenly squandering money on carriages. Expect a cold winter.”

“A year ago it was not fun at all,” Kyiv resident Olga told MK. – Gas stations did not work or worked, but with a long delay, because there was no light, which means there was no electronic payment either. There was no connection, water, or internet. There was nothing. We sat at home and froze.”

— Are you preparing for difficulties this winter?

— In the summer we bought a dacha, stocked up on food, firewood, warm clothes, and fuel. We bought a generator and everything we needed. We even bought candles for light. We will survive.