Kherson Governor Urges Evacuation as Russian Strikes Threaten Power and Heat
Intensifying Russian attacks on Kherson’s infrastructure have prompted the regional governor to ask families to leave before a long‑term power and heating outage.
Kherson residents received a stark warning on Thursday: leave the city if you can, as Russian strikes threaten to cut electricity and heating for an extended period.
Why the appeal matters
Regional governor Oleksandr Prokudin posted on Telegram that the security situation had become "extremely difficult" and that the enemy was stepping up attacks on critical infrastructure. He said the latest strike hit the city’s district heating plant with glide‑bombs, causing "very serious damage".
"I am once again addressing the residents of Kherson, especially families with children and elderly people: if you have the possibility... please leave," the governor wrote.
Without heat, homes and hospitals could become uninhabitable, and the lack of electricity would cripple communications, water pumps and medical equipment. The city, which housed about 280,000 people before the invasion, has already endured months of shelling from Russian forces positioned across the Dnipro river.
Escalating strikes on civilian targets
For several months both sides have increased long‑range attacks on civilian sites, from logistics warehouses to oil terminals. Last winter, repeated Russian bombings of power plants left millions across Ukraine without light or warmth, underscoring the strategic aim of crippling essential services.
Ukraine’s energy network is already under pressure, with the national energy price cap at a three‑year high as households brace for higher winter bills.
What comes next
Prokudin’s call may trigger a wave of displacement as families seek shelter in safer regions. Humanitarian organisations will need to scale up assistance, while the Ukrainian government faces the challenge of repairing the heating plant or finding alternative sources of warmth.
International observers are likely to condemn the attacks on civilian infrastructure, potentially prompting further diplomatic pressure on Moscow. In the meantime, residents of Kherson must decide whether to stay in a city that could face weeks without power or heat, or join the growing number of internally displaced Ukrainians seeking safety elsewhere.
