Ukrainian officials urge civilians to evacuate Kherson after power plant attack

Ukrainian officials are urging civilians to evacuate Kherson due to severe damage inflicted on the city's Combined Heat and Power Plant (CHP) by Russian forces. Oleksandr Prokudin, head of the regional military administration, stated that the plant sustained "very serious damage" from aerial bombs during a recent attack.

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

Prokudin expressed grave concern that the CHP, along with other critical infrastructure, might not operate normally throughout the upcoming winter. This could result in prolonged power and heating outages for Kherson, potentially lasting much longer than mere hours or days. "Honestly speaking, we can no longer count on the thermal power plant and heating plant or other critical infrastructure objects to function normally this winter," he said.

Appealing directly to Kherson's residents, Prokudin specifically advised families with children and the elderly to leave the city if they have the means, such as relatives or friends in safer regions. He acknowledged that city authorities, utility services, energy sector workers, and the government are actively exploring alternative solutions for heating and power supply.

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Therefore, honestly speaking, we can no longer count on the thermal power plant and heating plant or other critical infrastructure objects to function normally this winter.

The security situation in the Kherson region is described as extremely difficult. Since July 1, the region has been targeted with 170 guided aerial bombs, exceeding the total for the first half of 2026. Additionally, over 1,700 attack drones have been launched by Russian forces in the past two months, with a significant increase in the use of Shahed and Geran jet-powered drones against critical infrastructure. The number of FPV drone attacks has also surged, reaching 6,500 in a single week.

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