Generators, blankets and 2,000 tonnes of mixture: Mykolaiv assembles a winter survival kit

In Mykolaiv, major repair work on heating infrastructure has been completed, and preparations for the heating season are continuing amid wartime threats. The city is building up fuel and materials supplies, checking generators, setting up additional warming centers, and preparing backup power sources. According to the plan, fuel supplies for generators should last for at least 2 weeks of autonomous operation.

Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Sienkevych reported this on his social media, stressing that Russian attacks on energy and gas infrastructure mean the city must be ready for various scenarios—from short-term outages to serious damage to boiler houses and heating networks.

“We face another winter under wartime conditions. The terrorist state continues to strike the energy and gas infrastructure of Ukrainian cities, so we are preparing for various scenarios: from short-term outages to serious damage to boiler houses or networks. We have an action plan for every scenario.”

The municipal utility Mykolaivoblteploenergo maintains 100 boiler houses, 23 central and 130 individual heating substations, 33 pumping stations, and nearly 490 kilometers of heating networks. According to the mayor, all 100 boiler houses have undergone routine repairs. Major repairs were carried out on 19 boilers, as well as all 153 heating substations. Hydraulic testing was performed on nearly all 490 kilometers of heating networks. In addition, nearly 7 kilometers of heating networks underwent major repairs, while more than 2.2 kilometers were reconstructed, with old pipes replaced by pre-insulated ones. Mykolaiv CHP also modernized its section of the network.

This year, heating companies received 110 generators, 145 sets of inverters with batteries, solar panels, 5 water-heating boilers, 3 kilometers of large-diameter pipes, and specialized equipment.

Assistance was provided by international partners, including the Kingdom of Denmark, UNDP, UNOPS, GIZ, DCA, ADRA, and other organizations.

Most of the city’s boiler houses already have generators. Their technical condition is currently being checked, and fuel supplies are being built up to last for at least 14 days of autonomous operation.

Particular attention is being paid to ensuring that municipal companies are ready for emergencies. Each must provide backup emergency crews and adequate supplies of materials and fuel. The Department of Housing and Municipal Services will inspect the companies’ readiness.

If heating is unavailable in the city for an extended period because of infrastructure damage, warming centers will operate in educational, cultural, and sports facilities. They are being equipped with beds, bedding, diesel heaters, water, and generators. In case of disruptions to the centralized water supply, water distribution points are to be set up. In particular, the use of wells equipped with generators is planned. At medical facilities, intensive care units, operating rooms, and other critically important departments have backup power. Hospitals also have reserves of water and fuel so they can continue operating in the event of power and water supply disruptions.

Municipal companies are preparing not only for possible heating and electricity problems, but also for winter road maintenance. More than 2,000 tons of sand-salt mixture have been stockpiled so far, with about 750 tons more expected. According to the mayor, the equipment for winter road maintenance is ready to operate.

Oleksandr Sienkevych stressed that preparing the city’s infrastructure does not remove the need for residents to look after their own homes. Residents are advised to insulate their apartments in advance, check the condition of windows and doors, and prepare supplies of water, warm clothes, blankets, power banks, and flashlights.

Heads of condominium associations and property managers are urged to inspect internal building networks, basements, and valves so they can respond quickly in an emergency.

“The city authorities are preparing the city, but the warmth in your apartment also depends on you,” stressed Oleksandr Sienkevych.

The heating season is expected to begin when the average daily temperature remains at or below +8 degrees for several days. Heat will first be supplied to hospitals, schools, kindergartens, and other social facilities. Residential buildings are to be connected to heating afterward. The mayor noted that the city has already gained experience in getting through difficult winters during the full-scale war, and that the outcome will depend on the joint efforts of municipal services and residents.

“Mykolaiv has already made it through several harsh wartime winters, and we know we can cope when the city and its residents work together,” Oleksandr Sienkevych concluded.

We previously reported:

• New boilers for winter: boiler house in Mykolaiv region ready to start operating
• To keep treatment from being interrupted: medical facility in Mykolaiv region prepares for winter
• 3,639 generators, 1,091 boiler houses: how Mykolaiv region is preparing to get through winter
• Boiler houses are ready, networks are still being repaired: how Mykolaiv is preparing for winter
• To keep apartments from freezing again in winter: backup power once again promised for Korabelnyi District