Kyiv stockpiles food and water for possible winter blackouts

Kyiv is building up food and water reserves for a winter in which prolonged power outages remain a possibility. The city says the supplies could support hot meals for 25,000 people.

The stockpiles contain basic food products and are intended primarily for low-income residents and people facing difficult circumstances. The city is continuing to replenish them as part of preparations for the autumn-winter period of 2026-2027.

The same reserves can be used at invincibility centres during extended blackouts, provided to people affected by emergencies, and distributed to workers involved in rescue operations. Kyiv’s Department of Industry and Entrepreneurial Development also plans to purchase 20,000 more emergency food kits.

The administration said more than 1,300 elderly people living alone, about 400 children with disabilities and 500 people with disabilities are ready for temporary relocation. Since the start of the year, the city has distributed about 100 tonnes of food, 500,000 essential goods, 979 backup power sources and 250,000 warm packages. More than 380,000 families in frontline areas are due to receive a one-off payment of 19,400 hryvnias to help them through the winter.