The city of Konotop in Sumy Oblast has been living without a stable power supply for five days now following Russian strikes on energy infrastructure carried out on the night of October 24, 2026. As of October 28, the situation remains critical: electricity supply is provided mainly at night and is limited to specific facilities — the hospital and, periodically, the water utility. The rest of the city's consumers remain without power. This was stated by Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin on the Apostrophe TV channel, while JSC Sumyoblenergo provided a comment to RBC-Ukraine.
Scale of Destruction and Lack of Forecasts
According to the mayor, the energy facilities that sustained direct hits are completely destroyed and cannot be restored. "There are no forecasts at all, because there, well, what was there is gone: the equipment is missing, it is destroyed," Semenikhin emphasized. Sumyoblenergo confirmed that several energy facilities were damaged as a result of the attack on the night of October 24, which significantly complicated the restoration of power supply and limited the possibilities of backup power for consumers. At the same time, the energy company noted that the previously established protection of energy facilities worked, but the Russian strikes damaged parts of the infrastructure for which additional protection was not provided.
Continuous Works and Security Restrictions
Power restoration work, according to Sumyoblenergo, is ongoing continuously. Power engineers began restoration work immediately after the strikes, and as of October 27, some consumers have already had their electricity restored. At the same time, the energy company emphasizes that for security reasons it does not disclose the stages of restoration and details of the work: "This information can give the enemy an idea of the current state of the power system in this energy hub," the company's message states. Experts also point out that predicting exact timelines for power restoration is difficult due to the complex security situation and constant shelling.
Diesel Fuel Shortage: Threat to Invincibility Points
One of the most acute problems for the city has been the depletion of diesel fuel reserves necessary for the operation of generators and invincibility points. Konotop is using diesel stockpiled before the start of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure, and, according to Semenikhin's warning, reserves may run out in the near future. "We need a minimum of 40 tons of diesel right now. We very much hope that we will still be helped, that they will hear us," the mayor stated. On the Apostrophe broadcast, he added that literally the next day the city could be left without fuel, creating a direct threat to the operation of critical infrastructure, including the boiler house and water utility.
Government Response and Provision Instructions
The central government responded to the situation. As media reported, the Minister of Energy held negotiations with the mayor of Konotop and instructed the Ministry of Energy together with Ukrenergo to urgently resolve the situation and restore electricity supply as soon as possible. The government also decided to provide the city with a reserve of diesel fuel for alternative power sources, in particular for the operation of the boiler house and water utility. Sumyoblenergo confirmed that they are making every effort to restore a stable power supply to consumers left without electricity after the Russian attack.
City Life Under Blackout Conditions
Despite the prolonged absence of electricity, Konotop's social infrastructure continues to function. Kindergartens are open, and children are provided with hot meals. Schools are on vacation according to the approved schedule, which coincided with the period of outages. Catering establishments use backup power sources. Residents are gradually adapting to power outages: some are installing solar panels, and local entrepreneurs are providing assistance to neighbors left without power. Semenikhin emphasized that citizens continue to support each other and are determined to hold on despite the difficult situation.
