Due to blackouts, January was disastrous for restaurants in Kyiv
24 January 11:21
The restaurant business in the capital is on the verge of survival due to a combination of abnormal frosts and blackouts. The cost of operating generators is so high that even with customers, establishments are operating at break-even or at a loss.
Olga Nasonova, restaurant consultant and director of the Restaurants of Ukraine analytical center, spoke about this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
A critical month for the restaurant industry
According to the expert, January 2026 has become a critical month for the industry. The main factor in the financial decline has been the cost of autonomous power supply.
“Keeping a place warm is really expensive: right now, fuel for a generator, even for a small place, can cost a few thousand hryvnia a day. That’s a lot for a small coffee shop. And for a big place, the costs are often ten times higher,” Nasonova explains.
She adds that despite the use of powerful generators, not everyone is able to maintain a comfortable temperature in their premises—many establishments in Kyiv are simply cold, which further deters visitors.
The market is in a state of “freeze”
Even those establishments that previously showed high profits are now recording a sharp decline.
“In many ways, the restaurant market is now ‘frozen’. Frozen development, frozen profits. There are establishments that are operating at a profit, but even their profits have ‘frozen’ and decreased. Most establishments are not making a profit. At best, they are breaking even,” says Nasonova.
According to her, after the situation “thaws,” we may see unpleasant surprises and lose a certain number of establishments. Therefore , establishments are now facing the question of survival.
The main problems facing the industry in January are:
- High costs: The lion’s share of revenue goes to purchasing fuel.
- Decline in attendance: Due to frost and icy conditions, the flow of customers has halved.
- Lack of benefits: The state does not provide tax breaks or fuel compensation even for areas most affected by power outages.
When to expect a “thaw”
Relief for restaurateurs may only come with the arrival of spring warmth. Nasonova predicts that the lack of need for heating will significantly reduce fuel costs, even if power outages continue.
However, by that time, the market may suffer irreparable losses — up to 20% of Kyiv establishments that do not have the financial resources to survive the winter are at risk of permanent closure.
