Living on the Left Bank of Kyiv next winter could become critically difficult, says Popenko
4 March 14:47
Oleg Popenko, head of the Union of Utility Consumers, said in an interview with the YouTube channel "Komersant Ukrainian" that the situation with utility infrastructure on the left bank of the capital is already causing serious concern. According to him, without comprehensive and quick solutions, it may be “almost impossible” for Kyiv residents to live comfortably in certain areas this summer and next winter.
The issue of living in Troyeshchyna and Darnytsia “is being resolved right now.”
Popenko stressed that preparations for the next heating season have effectively failed.
“The question of whether it will be possible to live in Troieshchyna and Darnytsia next winter is being decided right now. After four years of war, people have not been able to draw conclusions and prepare for the difficulties,” he said.
According to Popenko, the key problem is not only heating, but also sewage systems in apartment buildings.
“It will be very, very difficult to restore the sewage systems in apartment buildings, to the point of impossibility. This requires a complete overhaul of the buildings,” he said.
The expert explained that in the event of large-scale disruptions to water supply and drainage during hot periods, the city could face unsanitary conditions and the risk of spreading infectious diseases.
“Sewage is a system that preserves the city. If it doesn’t work, the city becomes uninhabitable.”
Over a thousand buildings without heat: what is happening on the Left Bank
Popenko said that in the Dniprovskyi and Darnytskyi districts, more than 1,100 houses depend on the speed of restoration of heat-generating capacities. Another 300 houses have damaged heat supply systems.
According to him, the critical issue is the repair of equipment at TPP-4 and the possible installation of modular boiler rooms.
“If the station is not started up quickly, the second option — modular boiler rooms — must be considered. But here, too, everything depends on equipment and timing.”
Summer may be more difficult than winter
Popenko emphasized that the risks are not limited to the cold season.
“We should not only fear next winter — we should fear this summer. If the water disappears in the heat and the sewage system stops working, the city will be completely plunged into unsanitary conditions.”
He noted that at temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius in a densely populated metropolis, the consequences of a water treatment shutdown could be critical.
Therefore, according to Oleg Popenko’s assessment, the situation with the communal infrastructure of the Left Bank of Kyiv remains tense and requires urgent solutions. The main risks are related to the restoration of heat supply, water drainage, and the technical condition of multi-story buildings.
The data and assessments he has presented require official comments from the city authorities and relevant services. At the same time, the expert urges the residents of the capital to prepare for possible disruptions in both summer and winter.
