By the start of the new heating season, all Kyiv CHPs (including the private one) must restore the capacities necessary to ensure heat supply. This was stated on May 27 during a briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center by Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Energy Industry Research Center, reports UNN.
At the same time, according to him, missile and drone attacks by the Russian Armed Forces could significantly change the situation.
Details
The Director of the EIRC said that it is currently possible to say with confidence that the CHP capacities responsible specifically for heating will be restored by the heating season.
It can be said with confidence that by the heating season, all CHPs—specifically the heating capacities and boilers that operate for heating—will be restored. There is no doubt
He noted that even CHP-4, which had serious operational problems at the end of last winter, has already restored some of its functions.
Even the fourth CHP, which indeed was unable to operate during the final weeks of winter, is already supplying hot water and is actually working. Therefore, I personally have no concerns about whether they will be ready for the heating season. They will be ready
At the same time, he stressed that the readiness of the CHPs does not eliminate the risks associated with possible new Russian strikes on energy facilities.
The risks of strikes on them remain, unfortunately, and (they – ed.) could lead to (the CHPs – ed.) not working again
How Kyiv is preparing for the 2026/27 heating season
According to him, the plans currently being implemented in Kyiv could eliminate about 70% of the reasons why heating disappeared in buildings last winter. A significant part of the problems was related to damage to thermal infrastructure and the loss of electricity and water.
A large part of the problems was related to the loss of electricity, the loss of electricity at the water intake, which led to a lack of water, and heating had to be turned off again because heating does not work without water. This part of the problems, I think, will be completely resolved
He added that work is underway in the city to increase backup capacities for critical infrastructure. Some of them are already working, and some are still being installed.
The situation with CHP-4: what happened at the facility and why Kharchenko focused on it
Separately, Oleksandr Kharchenko explained the situation with CHP-4 last winter. According to him, the station itself could have worked, but the main water pipeline that was supposed to supply hot water to the system was damaged.
Three ballistic missiles hit the pipeline itself. At minus 20, it was, of course, completely split open, the water froze, and physically nothing could be done. It took weeks for that ice to go away
The expert noted that work is currently underway on the physical protection of such infrastructure elements, but a direct hit by a ballistic missile remains a critical risk.
Ukraine lowers gas storage prices in preparation for winter – new tariffs announced26.05.26, 15:00
How the capital plans to provide heat to Kyiv residents' apartments
A separate area of preparation is the creation of backup heat sources for buildings that may be left without centralized heating due to damage to CHPs or other infrastructure.
Oleksandr Kharchenko noted that there are about 15,000 buildings in Kyiv in total, of which almost 11.9 thousand are multi-apartment residential buildings. For most of them, it is already clear how to organize backup heating.
It won't be +20 or +24, but in these buildings, the backup heating will be enough to maintain +16, +18
At the same time, according to Kharchenko, approximately 2.5 thousand buildings are currently technically impossible to fully back up. This is exactly what specialists are working on now.
A large part of the work now is precisely on figuring out how to secure them if something happens. This includes mobile boiler houses being prepared and high-capacity mobile generators
He added that the preparation covers not only the coming winter: plans are laid out for the next two to three years. According to his assessment, in two years practically all buildings could have backup power, and in three years—backup solutions that will allow for a more comfortable temperature.
I really hope that the pace will not slow down, that the work will continue this way, and we will be much better prepared for the next winter than we were for the last one
Reminder
In early May 2026, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the protection of infrastructure and energy before winter. He emphasized that all regional resilience plans must be implemented before the start of the heating season.