Prokudin urged the people of Kherson to leave following the attack on the thermal power station: «We can no longer rely on it being operational this winter»

Following the strike on the Kherson Thermal Power Station, Oleksandr Prokudin urged the city’s residents to leave. Screenshot from a video by the Kherson Regional State Administration

The head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, has urged residents of Kherson to leave the city if possible. According to him, following yet another strike by Russian forces on the Kherson Central Heating and Power Plant, it is no longer possible to expect it to operate as normal this winter.

Oleksandr Prokudin made this statement in his address, as reported by NikVesti.

The official reported that on the night of 27 August, the Russians again attacked the Kherson Thermal Power Station with aerial bombs. The facility has now sustained very serious damage.

«We can no longer count on the thermal power station or other critical infrastructure facilities operating as normal this winter,» said Oleksandr Prokudin.

He added that the security situation in Kherson remains extremely difficult, and that Russian troops are intensifying their attacks on the region’s critical infrastructure on a daily basis. According to him, 170 guided aerial bombs have already been dropped on the Kherson region since 1 July. More have been used in just under two months than in the entire first half of 2026.

Furthermore, over the past two months, Russian forces have launched more than 1,700 attack drones. In the last week alone, the number of attacks by FPV drones has risen to 6,500.

«We must be realistic: Kherson may be left without electricity and heating not for hours or days, but for a prolonged period. And we need to start preparing for this right now,» he emphasised.

He explained that the regional authorities, together with the city authorities, utility services, energy providers and the government, are already working on alternative options for heating and power supply. However, he asked residents who are able to travel to safer regions to take advantage of this opportunity and leave the city.

«Once again, I appeal to the residents of Kherson, especially families with children and the elderly: if you have the means, or relatives or friends in safer regions — leave!» he urged.

For those who decide to evacuate, the Kherson Regional Military Administration is ready to assist with transport, accommodation and social support.

To organise their evacuation, residents can contact the Kherson Regional Military Administration’s call centre on 0 800 101 102 or 0 800 330 951. The government’s evacuation helpline is 1548.

Attack on the Kherson CHPP

In late 2025 and early 2026, the Kherson Central Heating and Power Plant came under numerous Russian attacks. In December, the plant was almost completely destroyed as a result of shelling, and in the first two days of 2026 alone, Russian forces carried out more than 10 precision strikes against it.

A second attack on the Kherson CHPP took place in August 2026. The Russian military attacked Kherson with a guided aerial bomb. As a result of the strike, one of the Naftogaz Group’s facilities was damaged. As a result of the attack, the thermal power station suffered critical damage. All the heat-generating and power-generating equipment remaining at the station was completely destroyed and rendered inoperable.

However, on 27 August, the station’s premises were struck by four guided aerial bombs (GABs) in quick succession.

As of 28 August, around 50 per cent of the population in Kherson remains without electricity due to damage to the energy infrastructure. Electricity is being supplied to the city on an hourly basis and in small quantities. Furthermore, according to the Kherson-based online media outlet «MOST», citing pro-Russian media, a large-scale blackout occurred in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region — leaving the entire region without power. Russian sources have cited a «technical fault» in the power grid.