Kyiv builds 13 backup heating sites to guard against energy grid attacks

Petro Panteleiev, the acting first deputy head of the Kyiv city administration, announced that the city is constructing 13 backup heating facilities to secure the capital's energy supply.

The project aims for completion by the end of 2026. The city is managing seven of these projects, while the State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development is overseeing the remaining six. Panteleiev explained that these sites are necessary because standard generators cannot meet the power demands of large water facilities.

The city completed the first stage of a dedicated power supply project which provides 16 megawatts of capacity. The broader project involves manufacturing equipment in various countries and integrating it into the local network, a process Panteleiev said takes longer than a few months to complete. Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi announced that the Ukrainian government will also provide 31 mobile generators to support water systems.

Ten of these units will go to Kyiv's water utility, while 21 will be distributed among 12 other communities across Ukraine. Koretskyi stated that these units will be funded by the state reserve fund to ensure that water supplies remain functional even when Russia attacks the power grid. These infrastructure projects follow repeated Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy grid, which have disrupted electricity and water services.

While most buildings in Kyiv should have heat by November 12, the electricity system remains under strain. President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that constant air raid alerts and daily strikes are currently slowing down the repair of damaged power plants and substations.