Winter for survival: 10 questions and answers about the likely consequences of blackouts this winter and life hacks from IT people on how to get through the winter comfortably

In preparation for the winter period of 2025-2026, Ukrenergo NPC has accumulated equipment in warehouses that is three times more than required by the standards for emergency restoration of the power system, Interfax-Ukraine quotes Vitaliy Zaichenko, Chairman of the Board of Ukrenergo.

According to him, to guarantee the security of the power system and pass the expected winter period, Ukrenergo has also carried out a lot of work to install protection for the company’s facilities, and, first of all, autotransformers.

«The first and second levels of protection have been built, and the autotransformer, which is now in the second level of protection, is sufficient to transmit the amounts of energy that will be consumed in the regions. This is the main work,» the head of the company stated.

In turn, energy expert and director of special projects at the Psyche Scientific and Technical Center Gennady Ryabtsev says that in the base scenario, we have enough existing generation and the capacity that we can import during peak hours. «All the outages that occur are a result of commands from Ukrenergo dispatchers and distribution system operators. This means that the system is now under control, and there is no situation where it is getting out of control,» he explains, adding that the overall current stability of the system does not mean that the Russians will not be able to disable individual objects of this system.

According to Ryabtsev, Ukraine will have enough gas in underground storage facilities to get through the autumn-winter season. The government has decided to purchase a third of the already purchased volume — an additional 1.5 billion cubic meters of gas to the already purchased 4.6 billion. Currently, there are 13.2 billion cubic meters of gas in underground gas storage facilities. Of these, only 8.5 billion can be used, since the rest is the so-called long-term storage gas and buffer gas. At the same time, energy companies need about 3 billion cubic meters for the entire season, Ryabtsev says .

In some regions (with strong impacts on local CHPs or main lines), the probability of a rapid decrease in temperatures in high-rise buildings is high; but a nationwide collapse is less likely. The authorities are preparing schedules and backup regimes, but local crisis scenarios are realistic.

The most difficult situation will be in frontline and border regions, where the threats to energy infrastructure are maximum. First of all, this applies to Chernihiv and Sumy regions, which are under constant shelling. There is a high probability of being left without heating in Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kherson regions.

As for Kyiv, the capital could be plunged into darkness for several days or even weeks if the enemy strikes key CHP plants.

«I think the situation where there will be no light is unlikely. But all energy workers do their job to ensure that there is always light, and not on such a difficult schedule,» says Zaichenko.

The cooling time of a home that is not supplied with heating and electricity depends on the age and inertia of the building. Oleg Popenko, an expert in housing and communal services and founder of the public association «Union of Consumers of Public Utilities», explains: «The first to freeze are the so-called „Khrushchev“ or „panel“ houses. There, freezing literally lasts for hours. 36 hours — and goodbye. Well, let’s say 48 hours, it already depends on the wind there.» After this time, the temperature in the apartments will drop so critically that you will have to drain the water from the heating system so that the pipes and risers do not crack. This means that the house is completely unfit for living.

Well-insulated modern houses and massive «Stalinki» (large heat-accumulating mass of walls) maintain a comfortable temperature longer — due to high thermal inertia and better tightness; panel houses and old high-rise buildings with thin walls cool down faster. The general scientific logic is that the higher the thermal mass and better thermal insulation, the longer the heat is retained.

Draining the coolant is done in case of risk of explosions/freezing of risers or during long downtimes that can damage the system (freezing of pipes). The decision is made by the utility services/housing offices. It is not worth arbitrarily draining the coolant in the apartment without the recommendations of local heating engineers, as this may complicate further connection).

To delay the process of draining the water from the system as much as possible, it is worth insulating the floors in the apartment. If suddenly such a need arises irreversibly, it is worth preparing shut-off valves and providing access to the common taps of the heating system.

The main safety rule: no open fires in residential premises, generators and stove heating — only with clear organization (ventilation) and compliance with fire and anti-CO safety rules. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and other services have repeatedly warned about cases of carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper use of generators and stove equipment. Here is a rating of the safest heating devices:

1. Electric heaters (if there is a source of electricity) — oil radiators, convectors, infrared panels: safe if instructions are followed and a stable power supply/inverter is available.
2. Battery systems + inverters + portable heaters (12/24/48V) — operate from a spare battery/batteries and provide battery life.
3. Generators (diesel/petrol/gas) are very efficient, but never use indoors or in enclosed spaces without ventilation. Minimum distance from windows/hoods is 6 m. They should be installed outdoors and exhaust in a safe direction. CO detectors near human habitation are mandatory.
4. Stoves/barrels/gas hobs pose a risk of CO and fire; they are advised to be used only with proper ventilation and carbon monoxide detectors.
5. Open fire, kindling indoors, burning garbage/coal in the room are strictly prohibited.

Practical advice on how to keep warm in an apartment now, after several years of turning off the lights, can be given by almost every Ukrainian. Here are the main ones:

1. Create zones of warmth. Organize a «warm room» — the smallest room in terms of area, with the best air tightness. Such a space will help keep the family warm.
2. Layers of clothing keep you warm. Thermal underwear, wool socks, thermal blankets, military/expedition grade sleeping bags work much better than just «another blanket.»
3. Insulation of windows and gaps. Rolls of foam, thermal film for windows, door seals — simple but very effective measures.
4. Hot food and drinks. Boil water for teapots/soups; internal calories increase resistance to cold.
5. Don’t forget about hydration — drinking clean water is necessary for the normal functioning of the body.

The best ways to stay in touch have been used by indomitable Ukrainians for several years.

• Starlink (SpaceX) is the most popular option for maintaining internet during complete blackouts. Another option is optical internet.
• Backup LTE modems + SIM cards from several operators are useful in cases where optical Internet «goes down» but mobile networks are working.
• VPN and mesh networks for continuous access to corporate resources.

You have several options for such cases.

• Local headquarters and shelters — you should follow the announcements of local authorities: in the event of mass outages, authorities open heating points/shelters. It is worth finding out the address of a shelter with heat, internet, and the ability to charge gadgets.
• Corporate hubs and coworking spaces — many companies have set up break-in points and shelters in their offices. There is always warmth and light, an opportunity to wash and eat hot food.
• Relatives/friends in regions with more stable heating — as a temporary relocation option.

A minimum «survival kit» for the home might include:

• 1–2 portable batteries (2500–5000 Wh) or generator (3–5 kW);
• 2–3 power banks (10–20,000 mAh) for mobile phones;
• Starlink/mobile router;
• CO detectors for the apartment, fire extinguisher, first aid kit;
• Thermal film for windows, seals, wool blankets and sleeping bags;
• Kitchen gas cylinder/primus (with ventilation);
• A supply of food and drinking and industrial water for several days.
• A push-button phone that can hold a charge for up to a week.
• Cash in case the ATMs are not working.
• Essential medicines for a few weeks.

dev.ua asked IT professionals for advice on how to survive a total blackout, if it ever happens.

Among the most popular solutions is moving from high-rise buildings to a private house.

I am expanding the existing solar field and purchasing additional batteries.

«I have a dacha near Kyiv, a battery, an inverter, a generator, a wood-burning fireplace, air conditioners, an electric boiler, 1 Gbit Internet,» says one of the IT workers interviewed. According to another industry representative, his private house is equipped with a 6 kW inverter and a 100 A battery. The farm also has a gasoline generator. «According to my calculations, it is enough to recharge the battery with a generator once a day (4 hours of generator operation) to be completely autonomous (heating, lighting, water pump, household appliances, workplace),» he said.

If you still stay in your apartment for the winter, here is a set of devices that will make life easier during IT blackouts: Hybrid inverter + 5kW battery + balcony panel (620W).

• UPS for the router.
• Power bank with fast charging.
• Gas burner.
• USB blanket.
• New Year’s USB garland for lighting, from 10 meters (to provide light for the entire apartment).
• Camping flashlight.

Also worth noting are a sleeveless jacket (vest) heated via USB, thermal sheets. They can be powered by a small charging station, and low-power kettles (for example, 600W).

And here is another life hack for those who want to save money on buying charging stations: «It’s best to find friends (relatives, colleagues) in Germany and buy them on Black Friday in the official German store Ecoflow — there will be huge discounts on the second generation of stations, an inverter as a gift, and much more. Then use a carrier who will bring it to you from Europe for 100 euros. It’s best to search on social networks for a carrier from the city where your friends and relatives live. As an option, they can deliver it to you by any bus to your city in Ukraine. If you’re already broke and there’s no one abroad, then order through NP Shopping, for example, but here you have to look for what’s happening with the VAT refund now, because customs duties have already been returned, unfortunately. It will still be much cheaper than here. Not for advertising: there is a store in Odessa (TG channel Tech Shop Little game) there is a very good seller there, who does not raise prices, I took a second battery from him. Look, maybe it will be easier and faster with him. And that — put an automatic switch — this is a completely different level of comfort of using the station.