Kyiv is experiencing its first absolute blackout: water and electricity supply is restored faster than expected, mobile connection is more challenging
The psychological impact of incoming shellings weakens with each subsequent attack, even if the power outage time is longer
On the same day, when the European Parliament recognized russia as a state sponsor of terrorism, the rf confirmed its status, once again attacking Ukraine's energy system.
An air raid alert was raised throughout the whole country. However, the most massive missile strikes fell on the capital and its suburbs, causing damage to several energy infrastructure facilities, such as the distribution center. It is responsible for energy delivery to customers.
In total, about 70 rockets were fired at Ukraine. The air defense forces neutralized 51 of them; 31 rockets flew at Kyiv, of them 21 were shot down. It is the third-largest missile attack on Ukraine and one of the most considerable in terms of damage caused. Mind monitors how quickly the capital recovers from the shock it has experienced.
What were the first consequences of the attack for the infrastructure? On November 23, from 2 p.m. in Kyiv, as well as in many other cities of Ukraine, emergency power outages began; water and heat supply to residential buildings and public institutions stopped. Due to the risk of bombardment, the NPP units also shut down, which resulted in an additional energy shortage in the power grid. Air alarm signals were turned off as well. Patrol brigades of the National Police and the State Emergency Service quickly replaced them with mechanical warning signals using loudspeakers.
At the first moment, experts unanimously diagnosed a "blackout." "For several days, it was a real scenario. However, they managed to recover the system faster than originally predicted," says unofficially a representative of one of the energy supply companies without commenting on the specific places of explosions.
Mobile connection "died" almost immediately after the bombardment. "The enemy attacked the infrastructure throughout the country. Objects that ensure work of communications once again became the targets for the enemy," the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP) stated. The agency recommended using landline connection, giving preference for text messages over the phone and video calls. For a better connection, people should also switch between operators.
The situation with mobile Internet was even worse. According to the company Netblocks, which monitors the field of cybersecurity, Internet traffic has fallen to 35% of the usual level.
How was the lack of resources compensated for? The absolute majority of Kyiv residents spent more than 15 hours without electricity, water, heat, mobile connection, and the Internet. Large-scale retail stores did not work, so buying foodstuff was a problem. However, small shops and cafés equipped with generators successfully filled this gap
Pumping stations with autonomous power supply partly compensated for the problem of water supply. Each microdistrict of the city had such a pumping station. On Thursday morning, huge queues were lining up for them, which began to thin out as the water returned to the houses.
As Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko reported by noon on November 24, the water supply was restored in all districts of the capital, although problems with pressure persisted.
What about the Internet? By the November 23 evening, most mobile operators' BTSs (base transceiver stations) had switched to electricity from generators. However, the quality of signal was poor due to excessive load. "As of 9 a.m, November 24, approximately 44% of BTSs in Ukraine are operational from the entire number of BTSs that existed before the full-scale invasion," said Volodymyr Kondrashov, spokesman for the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection
According to Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation, currently, the best situation with the operation of BTSs is in the Vinnytsia, Transcarpathia, Lviv, Rivne, Sumy, Cherkasy, and Chernivtsi oblasts. As you can see, Kyiv city and Kyiv Oblast are not included in this list. Telecom companies still continue to work intermittently on generators.
What about electricity? Most places saw entire blackouts as a result of the heavy bombardment, although 16 provinces had power by Thursday morning. 70% of the city's population continued to experience issues with the delivery of energy on November 24.
As reported in the press service of the Ukrenergo electricity transmission system operator, after previous massive rocket attacks, the company implements the protocol of actions regarding the return of power plant units to operation. Together with the Oblenergo distribution system operator, they apply backup power schemes for consumers. Priority no.1 is critical infrastructure facilities throughout the country: water utilities, heat communal enterprises, water drainage systems, etc.
"Due to the specifics of the attack that led to the shutdown of nuclear power plants, the restoration of power in the country is taking longer than after previous attacks. Now all power plants in Ukraine are gradually returning to work: first hydro and thermal power plants, and later, nuclear generation. Ukrenergo control centre predicts a decrease in the deficit in the system by the evening of November 24," the company added.
What is the political background of these attacks and the reaction to them? At the same time, russia and its satellites began to exert pressure on the Ukrainian authorities, incentivizing them toward negotiations. Thus, alexander lukashenko said that the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, should engage in peace talks with russia if he wants to "avoid huge casualties and the complete destruction of Ukraine."
"Everything is in the hands of Ukraine. If they don't want the death of people in huge numbers. It's not that Putin said long before the ‘operation’ that it would threaten the loss of statehood – it would be the destruction of Ukraine. They have to stop," quoted him propagandist media as saying.
Dmitry Peskov, russian president’s press secretary, also openly stated that Ukraine must fulfil russia's demands to "bring the situation back to normal." It only shows that the aggressor's strength is running out – and he needs peace talks more than Ukraine.
The psychological effect of such attacks weakens each time, even when the blackout period increases – people are just getting used to them.
Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine predicts that russians will continue to launch massive missile attacks on Ukraine. They will need about a week to prepare for the next one.
At the same time, the first half thousand of "Invincibility Points" are being set up in Kyiv for protection during emergencies. One point can host 40 to 500 people at the same time without a limit on the time of stay. All such objects will have access to the main basic services: electricity, heat, water, mobile communication, Internet (via Starlinks), medicines, and "mother-and-child rooms.”
Addresses of Points of Invincibility are available at the link.
UPDATED:
As of 16:00 on November 25, the third day of the blackout, emergency shutdowns continue to apply to half of Kyiv residents, but the situation with the energy supply is gradually improving. There are individual cases when the lack of light has already exceeded 50 hours. Kyivans ironically call it "jubilee."
The energy situation, according to DTEK representatives, is challenging but under control: lights will remain on for 1-2 hours every day until Kyiv receives more electricity. While all the capital's critical infrastructure has been powered.
Volodymyr Kudrytsky, Chairman of the Board at Ukrenergo, reassured that since NPPs have been resuming their work, all consumers will be returned to planned outages in 1-2 days.
DTEK promised to provide updated schedules of planned outages within a few days.
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