Ukrainian Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi, in an interview with BBC Ukraine published by RBC-Ukraine, stated that the Russian armed forces have focused special attention on Kyiv's water supply facilities and that capital residents should be prepared for significant domestic difficulties in the upcoming winter period. According to the head of government, the tactics of Russian attacks have changed significantly, and the situation this winter could prove even more difficult than in previous months.
Changing Tactics: From Energy to Water
Koretskyi explained that Russia is purposefully targeting infrastructure and life-support facilities with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in an attempt to exhaust the population. “Light and heat — we've already been through that, but now the Russians have a very active focus on Kyiv's water supply,” the Prime Minister emphasized. He urged not to dismiss risks simply because previous forecasts might not have materialized: “We should not assume that complex scenarios will not materialize.” The context for these statements was provided by massive Russian strikes on energy infrastructure that began on September 30, after which water supply disruptions were repeatedly recorded in Kyiv.
Backup Capacities and Alternative Schemes
According to Koretskyi, the government is preparing backup power sources, additional pumping stations, and alternative ways of supplying water. At the same time, the Prime Minister admitted that these measures will not be able to fully ensure familiar domestic comfort in the event of new attacks and destruction. He also drew attention to the fact that households depend on centralized systems to varying degrees: for some, electricity, water, and heat are directly connected to their daily lives, while others have alternative sources of supply. “There is no universal solution for all cases,” the head of government stated, adding: “We are doing everything to ensure that the worst-case scenarios Russia wants to bring about are minimized and eliminated as quickly as possible.”
Technical Causes of Water Disruptions
Serhii Horkutsenko, Deputy General Director of Kyivvodokanal, explained in an interview with EP that frequent water disruptions are related to voltage fluctuations and problems in the enterprise's electrical infrastructure, a significant part of which was built back in the 1970s. The official noted that water disruptions are not always related to direct damage to water utility facilities: the cause may be the impossibility of full wastewater drainage due to problems with power supply and the operation of pumping stations. Under the conditions of Russian attacks, he said, the priority has become ensuring the stable operation of the sewage system, as a prolonged absence of wastewater drainage can lead to serious sanitary problems.
Winter Scenario and Restrictions
Horkutsenko also reported that in the event of repair work, the enterprise will organize the delivery of drinking water. At the same time, he could not guarantee that under the most difficult scenario, uninterrupted water supply directly in apartments would be maintained. Earlier, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that Russia is trying to destroy, in particular, Ukraine's water supply system, and that without water and sewage, it will be much harder for people to endure prolonged power outages. The combination of these statements indicates that the winter period of 2026 could become a period of increased load on the capital's life-support systems and forced adaptation of living conditions.
