Ukrainians urged to stock up on food and water: how to prepare for possible large-scale power outages

In the winter of 2024, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Odesa may face serious energy supply problems due to generation shortages and military threats. In the event of an external power outage, residents of these cities could be left without electricity for up to 16 hours a day. Therefore, you should be as prepared as possible.

In particular, the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) advises to stock up on water and food. First of all, you need to stock up on food that will not spoil without a refrigerator and will not require electricity for cooking. These can be:

• canned meat, fish and vegetables;
• dried and jerky;
• freeze-dried foods (cereals, instant noodles and soups that need to be poured with boiling water, or buckwheat that can be poured with water at room temperature)

• breads, cookies, crackers;
• dried fruits, nuts;
• chocolate, candy;
• energy bars.

Water should be prepared for at least 3 days. Not only drinking water, but also technical water.

It is emphasized that one adult needs 3 liters of drinking water per day (including liquid consumed with food). As well as 10-12 liters of technical water for hygiene and cooking.

What else to stock up on

However, in order to go through the blackout as comfortably as possible, the KCSA advises to stock up on a number of "additional" things. In particular:

• buy a battery-powered FM radio to keep up to date with current events in case of a mobile phone and Internet outage;
• stock up on flashlights, battery-powered or rechargeable lamps, candles, matches, batteries, etc;
• fill your home first aid kit with all the necessary medicines;
• prepare a burner with a gas cylinder or dry alcohol;
• take care of safe movement on the street in the dark - buy reflective clothing or reflective tapes for sleeves, bags or backpacks.

You also need to take care of fire safety. In particular, buy a home fire extinguisher and keep it near places where candles are lit or a burner is used.

There may be no light for 16 hours a day

For his part, Oleksandr Kharchenko, director of the Energy Research Center, said earlier that in the event of an external power outage, residents of large cities may be left without electricity for up to 16 hours a day. We are talking, in particular, about:

• Kyiv;
• Kharkiv
• Odesa.

He explained that these cities are the most vulnerable in winter. "Kharkiv is under direct fire. Any substation and any generating capacity can be destroyed at any time. The military risks are the highest there," says Kharchenko.

According to him, Odesa is also experiencing a significant shortage of energy resources - the almost complete absence of its own generation in the city makes it dependent on external supplies. And in Kyiv, the country's largest city, the capacity deficit can reach 700-900 megawatts in winter.

"These capacities need to be brought in from outside. If there is nowhere to bring them from, let's be honest, if Kyiv is cut off from external power supply, Kyiv residents will be without electricity for 16 hours a day, and this will be normal," Kharchenko emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the blackout has also made the issue of buying charging stations (popularly nicknamed "eco-flow" after one of the manufacturers) relevant again, especially for those who live in apartment buildings and cannot afford a generator. However, for many people, the choice of such a device becomes a problem, as the price depends on its power.

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