Deputy head of Kherson RMA on on heating in Kherson this winter
A man is carrying a battery. Photo: Oleksandr Korniakov, VhoruKherson may be left without heating this winter due to the critical condition of its power-generating facilities and constant Russian attacks. Daily shelling is hampering the repair and restoration of damaged infrastructure.
This was stated on the «Ranok.LIVE» programme by Oleksandr Tolokonnikov, deputy head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, according to NikVesti.
According to him, the city’s heating system is generally ready for operation, but power generation facilities have suffered significant damage due to attacks by Russian drones.
«The heating system is ready, but the power-generating plants, unfortunately, are currently in a critical condition following attacks by Russian drones. If the shelling of the energy infrastructure were to stop now, we could predict that in a month’s time we would restore everything and get it up and running. But if something is hitting those facilities every day, it’s difficult to say anything,» he said.
Oleksandr Tolokonnikov noted that the authorities are warning residents about the possibility of a winter without heating.
«We are constantly warning people that this winter may be without heating. Although the Russians were also shelling us last winter, thanks to the heroic efforts of heating and power engineers, we were able to provide people with heating. This year, it’s anyone’s guess,» said the official.
The ‘Point of Indomitable Spirit’ in Kherson. Photo: OPAccording to him, the authorities have an evacuation plan in place in case the situation worsens. This includes, in particular, modular accommodation facilities both within the region and beyond its borders.
«People aren’t making much use of the evacuation options yet, perhaps because it’s still warm,» he said.
At the same time, it is already known that some of Kherson’s homes will be without heating. This primarily affects the coastal area and the Ostriv neighbourhood.
«There was no heating there last winter either. The Russians are targeting the surface heating pipelines, and, naturally, they are all already damaged,» noted the deputy head of the Regional Military Administration.
He also reported a decrease in the number of Russian drones attacking the Kherson region. According to him, over the past week there have been around 500 per day, whereas previously around a thousand drones were recorded daily.
The official suggested that this might be due to logistical problems or a change in the units carrying out the attacks.
At the same time, he emphasised that the temporary reduction in the intensity of the attacks does not provide grounds for predicting what the situation will be like during the heating season.
«If we have sufficient resources and the security situation allows it, we may be able to provide heating for a certain period, or perhaps not. The question is how the enemy will behave,» said Oleksandr Tolokonnikov.
Heating and electricity in Kherson: what is known
As a reminder, Yevhen Ihnatenko, deputy head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, stated that the authorities are already preparing for the possible consequences of the destruction of the Kherson Thermal Power Station and are planning the evacuation of families with children and people with reduced mobility.
In late August 2026, Russian troops launched another strike on the Kherson Thermal Power Station, which had already suffered numerous attacks between late 2025 and early 2026 and had been almost completely destroyed. On 28 August, the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, urged the city’s residents to leave if possible, stating that it was no longer possible to rely on the power station operating as normal this winter. On the same day, it emerged that the Ukrainian military had struck back, hitting two electricity substations in the occupied part of the Kherson region — «Tymofiivka» and «Henichesk».
In early September, the power supply situation remained critical: Prokudin stated that the whole of Kherson is currently receiving as much electricity as a single supermarket in Kyiv consumes. And according to the Regional Military Administration, Russia has increased the number of attacks on the city by 2.5 times since the start of 2026 — whereas Kherson previously endured around 2,500 attacks per week, the figure has now risen to 6,000.
Furthermore, the Regional Military Administration has already stated that it cannot guarantee a stable supply of heating and electricity in Kherson this winter.