Kyiv faces energy crisis as backup infrastructure delayed until 2027

Kyiv faces a severe energy crisis risk ahead of winter, with critical backup infrastructure projects not expected to be completed until late March 2027. Volodymyr Omelchenko, head of energy strategies at the Razumkov Center, warns that the capital remains vulnerable to significant disruptions in electricity, heating, and water supplies.

Currently, Kyiv relies on external sources for over 95% of its electricity needs. While the city requires between 2 and 2.3 gigawatts of power during winter, its decentralized generation capacity stands at only approximately 65 megawatts. This high level of dependency creates a strategic vulnerability; if transmission networks are severed, the city could face total blackouts.

Specific areas served by thermal power plants CHP-4 and CHP-5 are at heightened risk of losing heating services. Additionally, large-scale procurement processes for water supply backup systems, involving 13 stations and valued at over 615 million hryvnias, are also slated for completion in early 2027.