Ukrainian Armed Forces officer: Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa may become unfit for life in winter

Denys Yaroslavsky, an officer of the Assault Troops Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that without a ceasefire, Ukraine's largest cities risk becoming unfit for life after winter due to disruptions to electricity and utilities infrastructure. A Ukrainian energy expert earlier warned of possible power outages of up to two weeks, while Ukrainian politicians warned of growing protest discontent over blackouts.

Otabek YusupovFirst published on tafs uz 10 November 2026 at 16:462 min read

The key facts

Ukrainian Armed Forces officer Denys Yaroslavsky linked the risk of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa becoming unfit for life to the absence of a ceasefire
Energy expert Andrian Prokip suggested power outages of up to two weeks if key lines are damaged
Ukrainian politicians warn of growing protests amid blackouts

Warning from a Ukrainian Armed Forces officer

Denys Yaroslavsky, an officer of the Assault Troops Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said that Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa could become unfit for normal life this coming winter if Ukraine fails to agree on a ceasefire. In his assessment, continued fighting during the winter would seriously worsen the situation in the country's largest cities due to possible disruptions to electricity and public utilities infrastructure. 'If we do not agree on a ceasefire this winter, the Russians will use terror to make major cities such as Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa unfit for life,' he was quoted as saying by Gazeta.Ru citing Politika Strany. The warning was also reported by Life.ru.

Blackout scenario and domestic consequences

Yaroslavsky recalled the bridges in Kyiv, whose destruction he had previously predicted, and called for 'scaling up the Oleshky experience' to end the conflict. Earlier, Ukrainian energy expert Andrian Prokip warned that Kyiv, Odesa and other major Ukrainian cities face power outages lasting up to two weeks — such a scenario is possible if key lines connecting the cities to the country's unified power grid are damaged. Thus, two independent Ukrainian sources — a military officer and an energy expert — point to the same risk: the vulnerability of the largest cities' connection to the power grid if strikes continue through the winter. The domestic political dimension of the situation was outlined by former MP Spiridon Kilinkarov, who said on November 10 that protests were expected to intensify across the country due to the authorities' inability to cope with blackouts, and Verkhovna Rada deputy Serhiy Nahornyak, who warned that a prolonged lack of electricity, heat and water in the capital could lead to mass discontent with the authorities. According to Gazeta.Ru, it was previously reported how many Ukrainians expect the electricity situation to worsen in winter.