UNIT.City — the largest innovation park in Ukraine — has been preparing for this winter since 2022. In an interview, we tell you how 4,000 people work in stable conditions even during blackouts, how much autonomy costs, and why residents sometimes spend the night in offices.
UNIT.City — the largest innovation park in Ukraine — has been preparing for this winter since 2022. In an interview, we tell you how 4,000 people work in stable conditions even during blackouts, how much autonomy costs, and why residents sometimes spend the night in offices.
— When did you start preparing for the difficult winter? Was it a special program or gradual steps?
— When we talk about preparing for winter, it sounds like we mean several months. But that’s definitely not the case. We started preparing back in 2022 — after the first attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure, when it became clear: energy instability may not be an exception, but a new reality.
The first winter of a full-scale war, like everyone else, we went through it in a mode of forecasts and quick decisions. Even then, it became obvious: the park’s regular reserve capacities would not be enough if the outages were long and systemic.
— What specific solutions have you started implementing?
— In the fall of 2022, we ordered the first powerful generators — not «just in case,» but as a basis for future autonomy. Then, each difficult winter became a point of analysis for us: what worked, what didn’t, where were the bottlenecks, what needed to be changed. After each season, we reviewed the scenarios, updated the standards, and added new solutions.
Today, UNIT.City is no longer about reserves, but about system solutions. The park has 5 powerful generators, a 1.3 MW solar power plant, which we deliberately built in test-drive mode and are now scaling up its construction, which in the future will allow us to have up to 2.6 MW. We are also installing a separate energy storage unit as an 8 MW uninterruptible power supply.
— How many people work to support this infrastructure?
— UNIT.City’s technical service team consists of 120 specialists: electricians, engineers, infrastructure operation specialists, security services, operational and service teams responsible for the autonomous and safe operation of the park.
— What are the total investments in energy independence over these years?
— Investments to date are almost €1.5 million over 4 years. The solar power plant and generators with engineering work alone cost the park over €1 million. Preparing for winter for UNIT.City is not about «surviving the season,» but about a systemic infrastructure investment that allows companies, teams, and park residents to operate stably even during turbulent periods.
— How many residents are there in UNIT.City now? How has activity changed in the winter?
— As of today, UNIT.City has 140 resident companies, with a total staff of about 4,000 people. The park operates in full operation mode — without stops and without reducing activity in the winter period.
— Is there any seasonality in the use of space?
— If we talk about seasonality, the number of residents does not change significantly. At the same time, in winter we clearly see an increase in demand for workspaces. There are few vacant office spaces in the park, so the peak load now falls more on coworking — where not only residents but also teams from outside come to work — both for a day and for several weeks.
— Tell us more about the power supply system. How long can you last without external power supply?
— UNIT.City’s power system is built according to several scenarios. Some business campuses are connected to imported electricity, which allows them to operate even during times of shortage or planned outages.
The basis of autonomy is provided by generators and an energy storage system. In the event of a complete blackout, the park is able to operate autonomously for 7–10 days.
— How does it work in practice?
— It is important to understand: in extreme conditions, a special operating mode operates — with consumption schedules and priorities for critical infrastructure. This allows you to not just «hold on», but to work predictably.
— How is the water supply arranged? Is there autonomy from city networks?
— Like most city facilities, UNIT.City is connected to city networks. At the same time, in case of emergencies, we have tanks of technical water, which are enough for up to three days of uninterrupted operation. This gives time to stabilize the situation without stopping key processes.
— What about the heat? How many degrees are the rooms in the winter?
— Thanks to a combination of various engineering solutions — from our own boiler rooms to backup power sources — we try very hard to maintain a comfortable temperature in the event of a deficit within 18–22°C in all business campuses. This is the basic condition for normal work of people in the winter.
— Can residents stay overnight at UNIT.City? Are there any conditions for this?
— Yes, residents can stay overnight at UNIT.City if necessary — there are no restrictions on this. We take into account the realities in which the business operates: different time zones, international teams, heating or electricity outages at home.
The park has showers, sleeping rooms, and basic infrastructure for short-term stays. Cases of residents staying overnight are not isolated and are perceived as a completely normal practice in wartime.
— If a person is not a resident, can they come to UNIT.City to work or charge their gadgets?
— Yes, of course! If you are not a permanent resident, you can come and work at UNIT.Coworking (campus B9). There is stable internet, the ability to charge gadgets, coffee, tea, water — everything you need for a full working day.
— Tell us about the bomb shelters. What conditions are created there?
— There are three shelters operating on the territory of UNIT.City, with the ability to accommodate everyone. These are mainly parking lots adapted as full-fledged shelters with lighting, heat, Internet, and multimedia capabilities.
We pay special attention to training people: we regularly conduct training and briefings together with the State Emergency Service so that residents clearly understand the procedure in the event of an emergency.
— What about mobile communication and the Internet in the park?
— Communication in the city generally depends on the work of telecom operators and the situation in the power system, so it is impossible to completely eliminate interruptions.
For its part, UNIT.City has done everything to maintain operational conditions within the park: the internet is stable, there is backup power for key infrastructure, and the business campuses are ready to operate even during power outages. This allows teams to stay connected and continue working during difficult periods.
In addition, UNIT.City has a base of Starlink terminals that can block any negative communication scenarios.
UNIT.City shows what real IT business resilience looks like in wartime: it’s not just generators and solar panels, but a comprehensive approach — from engineering solutions to a safety culture. An investment of €1.5 million over four years has transformed the park into an autonomous hub where 4,000 people can work even on the most difficult days.
