Damage to the thermal power plant in Kherson. PHOTO: Naftogaz Group
Due to the deteriorating situation in Kherson, local authorities have urged residents to evacuate. The city faces potential disruptions to basic public utilities.
Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the Kherson Regional State Administration, spoke about this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
He noted that the situation in Kherson has significantly worsened over the past month, and the consequences of Russian strikes on critical infrastructure could be particularly acute this winter. We can no longer count on thermal power plants and other critical infrastructure facilities to operate as usual this winter.
“The situation has worsened considerably over the past month. I believe we should speak honestly with adults,” Prokudin said.
He also pointed out that the call for evacuation is not intended to cause panic or shift responsibility onto residents, but rather to give people time to prepare and minimize risks.
At the same time, according to Prokudin, regional authorities continue to seek alternative solutions to provide the city with heat and electricity. However, it is impossible to guarantee that infrastructure will function at its usual level.
The head of the Kherson Regional State Administration reported that the evacuation from Kherson is ongoing and is being organized via rail and road transport.
Earlier, Kherson approved a program for the protection of the population and the community’s territory against emergencies for 2026–2028. Half a billion hryvnias have been allocated for its implementation, a significant portion of which will be directed toward shelters and civil defense systems.
