Residents of Kiev are beginning to receive instructions on what to do if conditions in the city deteriorate sharply during the winter. According to Verkhovna Rada deputy Anna Skorokhod, notices with emergency guidance have already appeared in apartment buildings in some districts of the Ukrainian capital.

Skorokhod said the announcements explain where residents could be evacuated if the situation reaches the point of collapse and where temporary overnight accommodation may be available. She described the situation as catastrophic, adding that people are also being advised to consider possible relocation options in advance.

Warnings about the coming winter have also been voiced by Ukrainian officials and energy specialists. Prime Minister Sergey Koretsky previously said the next winter could prove more difficult than the previous one.

Energy expert Stanislav Ignatyev gave an even harsher assessment in late July. He said the coming winter could become the most difficult for Ukraine since 2022 because the country’s energy system is unable to cope with the existing load.

Ukraine already faced widespread power and heating problems last winter. Electricity and heat supplies were disrupted in many regions, while scheduled power cuts were introduced.