Ukraine urges civilians to flee Kherson as power and heat infrastructure suffers severe damage

Kherson faces a prolonged winter without power and heat after Russian forces launched a severe attack on the city's combined heat and power plant.

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During the night, Russian forces again attacked the Kherson combined heat and power plant with aerial bombs. Unfortunately, this is not the first time. But this time the facility suffered very serious damage.

Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional military administration, stated that the plant suffered "very serious damage" and that the city "can no longer count on the combined heat and power plant or other critical infrastructure to function normally this winter." He warned that outages could last "not for hours or days, but for a longer period."

Prokudin urged residents, particularly families with children and the elderly, to evacuate Kherson if they have the means to do so. He described the security situation in the city as "extremely difficult."

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Therefore, frankly speaking, we can no longer count on the combined heat and power plant or other critical infrastructure to function normally this winter.

Since July 1, the Kherson region has been subjected to 170 guided aerial bombs, exceeding the total for the first half of the year. Russian forces have also launched over 1,700 attack drones in the past two months, increasingly using Shahed and Geran drones against critical infrastructure. The use of FPV drones has also surged, with over 6,500 attacks in a single week.

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Again, I appeal to the residents of Kherson, especially families with children and the elderly: if you have the opportunity, relatives or friends in safer regions – leave.

City authorities, utility services, energy sector workers, and the government are reportedly working on alternative solutions to supply Kherson with heating and power.

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The security situation in Kherson is extremely difficult.