Kyiv prepares for heating system shutdown: universities and dormitories seek solutions after attack on infrastructure
9 January 17:10
In Kyiv, against the backdrop of a massive Russian attack on energy infrastructure, city services are preparing for a possible drain of water from heating systems to prevent them from bursting in freezing conditions. Ksenia Semenova, president of the Kyiv Aviation Institute State University, reported receiving relevant recommendations from the Kyiv City State Administration, Interfax-Ukraine writes , as reported by Komersant.
What the university says
According to Semenova, the university has been instructed to be prepared, but no final decision has been made yet. The most difficult situation is in the upper dormitories, where the risk of accidents is highest.
If the city orders the draining of water, dormitory residents will be offered several options:
- temporarily return home;
- move to the lower dormitories, where conditions are more stable;
- stay, using winter sleeping bags.
Why this scenario is being considered
Draining water from heating systems is an extreme measure resorted to in the event of a prolonged lack of heat and the risk of severe frosts in order to avoid damage to pipes and equipment. Restoring such systems in the middle of winter can be more difficult than temporarily shutting them down.
The general context in the capital
After the Russian attack, nearly 6,000 apartment buildings remain without heat, which is about half of Kyiv’s housing stock.
Social facilities, including hospitals and maternity wards, have been connected to mobile boiler rooms. At the same time, Mayor Vitali Klitschko has called on Kyiv residents who have the opportunity to do so to temporarily leave the city.
Final decisions on draining heating systems will be made centrally, depending on the pace of heat supply restoration and weather conditions. For dormitory residents, the coming days may be decisive — whether emergency scenarios will have to be implemented depends on the stabilization of the power system.
We remind you that the mayor has called on Kyiv residents who have the opportunity to temporarily leave the city for places with alternative sources of power and heat. According to him, city services are working in emergency mode, and weather conditions will remain difficult in the coming days.
