Kherson CHP plant shut down after shelling: what threats to the city
5 December 2025 11:27
The Russian army has conducted another targeted attack on the Kherson thermal power plant. As a result of the attack, the city’s critical infrastructure suffered large-scale damage, and the plant itself effectively shut down. Naftogaz of Ukraine said that the Kherson CHP plant was almost destroyed, and several employees were injured.
What happened
Naftogaz confirmed that Russian troops targeted the Kherson CHP plant on December 3. The strike caused critical damage to power equipment, destroyed key components of the plant and started a fire. Employees who were on the premises at the time of the attack were injured.
“The shelling takes place every day, but after yesterday’s attack the plant was almost destroyed. Unfortunately, there are casualties among the employees,” the post says.
Power engineers emphasize that Kherson CHPP is an exclusively civilian facility and its only purpose is to provide heat to the homes of the townspeople.
After the CHPP shutdown, 470 houses were left without heat, which is more than 40.5 thousand subscribers.
Experts are currently assessing the extent of the damage and analyzing which elements of the system can be repaired and which need to be replaced.
The local authorities are looking for an alternative source of heat for the houses that were connected to the CHPP and are negotiating with partners to provide Kherson residents with electric heaters.
What does the shutdown of Kherson CHPP mean and how will the region be supplied with heat?
After the large-scale Russian shelling, Kherson CHPP actually stopped working. The plant, which provided the majority of the city’s heat supply, has been critically damaged. We explain what this means for the residents of Kherson and what solutions the government is currently preparing in the article based on the commentary of Oleksandr Kharchenko, Director of the Center for Energy Research.
Why Kherson CHPP is critically important for the city
Director of the Center for Energy Research Oleksandr Kharchenko in a commentary
“You see, it is definitely important for the region, because most of the heat supply in Kherson was provided by the CHPP. Of course, it was built in the 60s, but nevertheless, the boilers were working normally and it was functioning perfectly well before the shelling,” Kharchenko explains.
That is why its shutdown created a problem that requires immediate solutions.
The main challenge: how to keep people warm in winter
After the shelling, the government and local authorities must promptly provide alternative heat to those residents who remain in the city despite the constant attacks.
“The problem is that now we need to install alternative heat sources for those Kherson houses where people stay, despite all the attacks that take place on a daily basis, people need heat,”
– says Kharchenko.
First of all, we are talking about schools, hospitals, and residential buildings where the centralized heating was tied to the CHP plant.
What solutions are being prepared: mobile boiler houses and temporary heat supply schemes
According to the expert, the government is already acting urgently:
“Accordingly, now, as far as I know, the government is taking urgent measures to deliver the necessary mobile boiler houses that can be quickly installed there and provide people, at least temporarily, with heating schemes.”
– said the director of the Center for Energy Research.
Mobile modular boiler houses are able to locally provide heat to individual neighborhoods, social facilities and homes that need support the most.
At the same time, experts are assessing the extent of the damage and planning whether and how quickly the CHPP itself can be restored.
Are there any chances to restore the plant?
Kharchenko emphasizes that there is a chance, but it is still impossible to predict the timeframe.
“There are chances for restoration. But it is too early to say how quickly it is possible,”
– the expert emphasizes.
Preliminary assessments indicate significant damage that requires complex engineering solutions, time and security conditions.
What territory did Kherson CHPP cover?
The plant provided heat exclusively to the city of Kherson.
“It works only for the city of Kherson,”
– the expert clarifies.
“Therefore, its shutdown does not affect the region as a whole, but it is critically important for city residents.
