“The League of the Strong” conducted a survey on the impact of power outages on the lives of people with disabilities and their families. The data collection was open until February 20, 2026. Preliminary results indicate that power outages affect not only comfort but also access to basic needs, which are heating, water, medical care, communication, and the psycho-emotional state of individuals.
Who was surveyed?
A total of 462 people participated in the survey, representing a clearly defined social profile. The vast majority of respondents are women (81.8%) aged 35–44 (35.9%). They have family members with disabilities (50.2%).
Other significant age groups include those aged 45–54 (31.2%), 25–34 (12.3%), and 55–64 (10%), with smaller shares of youth (18–24) and seniors (65+). Furthermore, 37.4% of respondents reported having a disability personally, while 8.7% stated that both they and their family members have disabilities.
Additionally, 16.2% of respondents are internally displaced persons (IDPs). The share of veterans is small–approximately 3.5%–allowing them to be viewed as a distinct but less represented group within the study.
Power Supply and Heating
The duration of outages varies: 22.5% experience outages for more than 8 hours, 18.8% for 4–6 hours, 15.8%for 6–8 hours, 14.7% for 2–4 hours, and 6.1% for less than 2 hours. Unstable schedules affect 16.2% of respondents, while 5.9% reported being without power for 10–24 hours.
Over half of the participants (50.2%) noted that outages follow a schedule. For 35.7%, outages are unscheduled, and 14% provided ambiguous answers (frequent emergency outages, inconsistent schedules, or equipment failures due to high voltage unrelated to shelling).
Regarding heating: for 57.7% of respondents, heating depends on electricity and fails during outages. For 9.1%, heating systems were damaged by shelling, and 1.7% have no heating for other reasons. Only 21.7%have constant heating.
Impact on Well-being
More than half of the respondents (55.2%) stated that power outages–both at home and in other locations–have a very strong impact on their daily lives. For 29.9%, the impact is fairly strong, and for 14.5%, it is moderate. Only 0.4% reported little to no impact.
The greatest threats to safety identified by respondents include:
- Heating issues (69.7%)
- Insufficient lighting in streets, entrances, and buildings (51.3%)
- Non-functioning traffic lights (42.6%) and elevators (38.5%)
- Service suspension of vital institutions (medical, social, administrative, etc.) (25.5%)
- Inaccessible shelters or the inability to reach them (24.5%)
- Lack of emergency alerts and alarms (16.2%)
Daily activities are also severely affected:
- Disrupted internet and communication (81.8%)
- Difficulty planning the day (79.2%)
- Disruption of work or study conditions (61.7%)
- Challenges in preparing food (58.7%)
- Hampered mobility (45%)
- Disruption of medication and care routines (30.1%)
- Failure of essential medical and assistive equipment (22.5%)
Other hazards highlighted by respondents include social isolation, unplowed snow, lack of barrier-free street access, spoilage of vital medications, hygiene issues, and stress reactions to power fluctuations (particularly for people with autism), posing significant risks to mental health and the development of new conditions.
Health Status
A total of 92.4% of respondents noted that outages affect their psycho-emotional state. Deterioration in mental well-being (anxiety, stress, tension) is observed by 84.4%, while 69.5% feel depressed and helpless. Additionally, 52.5% experience physical decline (fatigue, weakness), 34.8% have problems storing medications, and 30.9% reported the emergence or aggravation of chronic conditions.
Water and Hygiene
Access to water is inconsistent: 34.2% have a constant supply, 33.3% lose it occasionally due to outages, and 24.5% lose it every time the power goes out. Another 4.3% have unstable access regardless of outages.
Specific hygiene challenges include:
- Difficulty accessing water for personal hygiene (67.8%)
- Difficulty using the toilet (44.3%)
- Challenges in maintaining clean laundry or preparing baby products (43.4%)
Regarding drinking water, 44.1% have access issues due to outages, 44.1% have no problems, and 7.3% face difficulties regardless of power status. Respondents mentioned stockpiling water themselves or with the help of neighbors, or using wells. Non-power-related issues include aging pipes, high chlorination, freezing pipes, and bureaucratic delays.
Personal hygiene needs vary:
- 31.1% require specialized hygiene products (e.g., hypoallergenic soaps, wipes).
- 33% need regular washing and replacement of hygiene supplies (e.g., adult diapers, catheters).
- 29.2% require assistance with bathing, including caregivers or assistive devices (e.g., shower seats).
- 7.1% need specialized procedures, such as wound irrigation or bedsore care.
- 13.4% face difficulties with household waste disposal.
Adaptation and Needs
How respondents adapt:
- Charging gadgets in advance (81.6%)
- Preparing essentials (water, food, lighting) (65.4%)
- Planning tasks around outage schedules (62%)
- Using alternative power sources (39.5%)
- Requesting help from relatives or services (15%)
- Unable to adapt (17%)
Urgent needs:
- Generators or alternative power supplies (92.7%)
- Social or medical accompaniment (39.3%)
- Accessible information on outage schedules (32.4%)
- Access to “Points of Invincibility” (resilience centers) (18.1%)
When asked about local government support, 59.2% stated that local authorities and the community do not support people with disabilities, 28.3% are unaware of any support, 10.8% receive occasional support, and only 1.7% receive regular support.