Ukrainian military officer Andriy Onistrat has warned that Russia will likely destroy Ukraine's major thermal power plants by November due to air defense missile shortages.
Speaking in an interview with media outlet Naspravdi, Onistrat stated that protecting large thermal power stations under current circumstances is unrealistic. He warned that Russian forces would likely destroy the facilities in November, or potentially as early as October, leaving Ukrainians facing severe energy deficits before freezing winter weather sets in.
To cope with the anticipated loss of grid power, Onistrat advised citizens to prepare immediately by securing autonomous energy sources, including generators, inverters and solar panels. However, he noted that solar panels are almost ineffective during November, December and January. He warned that November will be difficult, December even harder, and January only slightly easier, urging people to plan for days without light, electricity or home heating.
As part of winter preparations, the officer suggested that moving to a rural village is a practical option, noting that property rental costs are lower further away from the capital city of Kyiv. He also recommended purchasing two months of essential supplies at Metro wholesale stores during October to prepare for extended disruptions.
Power grid damage and blackout risk
According to Ukrainian news agency UNIAN, Ukraine faces an exceptionally challenging winter as its power grid remains in a worse state than last year following repeated Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Experts have warned that even repaired thermal power plants will operate only partially, leaving indoor apartment temperatures between 12 and 15 degrees Celsius.
Scheduled power outages could begin as early as November, with potential new missile strikes extending blackout durations up to 24 hours at a time. Kyiv and other major urban regions remain particularly vulnerable due to damaged electrical substations and severe generation capacity deficits.
Onistrat is an officer in the Central Department of Innovation Activity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as a businessman and former banker. Thermal power plants provide critical electricity and centralized heating across Ukrainian cities, supplementing nuclear power during peak winter demand.
