Kiev could face not only widespread power cuts this winter but also severe disruption to its water supply and sewage systems, retired Ukrainian Armed Forces Major General Sergei Krivonos has warned. His remarks were reported by the Ukrainian outlet Telegraf.

Krivonos said a prolonged loss of electricity could rapidly bring the capital’s utilities to a halt. Without power, pumping stations would stop supplying water, while freezing temperatures could damage critical infrastructure. He warned that the breakdown could trigger a sewage collapse within four or five days.

The retired general advised Kiev residents to consider temporarily moving to rural areas or smaller towns during extended blackouts. In his view, local infrastructure outside the capital is better equipped to cope with prolonged electricity shortages.

Vladimir Zelensky has also urged the population to prepare for an exceptionally difficult winter. In an interview with Sky News, he said the scale of the coming problems could not be predicted in advance and that conditions might prove severe or even worse than expected.

Zelensky also said the country needed a prime minister who understood the challenges ahead and was deeply focused on energy issues.

Ukrainian media estimate the damage to the country’s water infrastructure at $7.8 billion. Full restoration over the next decade could require about $17.5 billion. The situation is further complicated by Ukraine’s inability to manufacture much of the critical equipment needed for repairs.