Interruptions in the supply of electricity, water and heat, which are caused by lightning strikes on the domestic energy infrastructure, force Ukrainians to adapt to new living conditions. found out which goods will help us overcome these difficulties and how much we will have to pay for them.

Winter is getting closer and closer to us, the weather is no longer warm, and the daylight hours are getting shorter and shorter. The bloody Russian invaders decided to take advantage of these natural changes. Having no success at the front, they began to terrorize the civilian population of Ukraine: they hit the objects of the energy infrastructure in order to plunge us into the cold and darkness.

This “energy terror” began in the first half of October and, unfortunately, repeats itself with some regularity. As a result, Ukrainians face power outages, mobile communications, water and heating interruptions.

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyi, in his Sunday video address to Ukrainians, emphasized that Russian attacks on Ukraine may be repeated very soon.

“We understand that the terrorists are preparing new strikes, and as long as they have missiles, they will not calm down. Whose war has taken away their homes and relatives… our mutual assistance is one of the elements of protection against terror and our strength,” the head of state said .

Our indomitable people do not succumb to panic, which is provoked to solve, but tries to make life easier for themselves in the event of a temporary absence of the “goods of civilization”. And with the approaching harsh winter, each of us should review our stocks of long-term food, warm clothes, flashlights and power banks, as well as other goods that will come in handy in difficult conditions.

What do Ukrainians stock up on?

Even in the summer, Ukrainians understood that it would not be easy for us during the cold period this year, so some even then began to think about buying generators or at least power banks. But after the first massive shelling by Russian terrorists of the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, the population has multiplied the purchase of those goods that will help overcome the darkness and cold.

In particular, in the chain of shopping centers “Epicentr” this year, during the period from October 10 to November 10, the sale of generators increased almost tenfold compared to the same period last year.

“At the same time, the most popular among consumers were gasoline generators, the share of which in the sales structure was almost 82 percent. The share of diesel generators during this period was equal to 11 percent, and the rest fell on combined and special units,” the company noted.

Also, in the stores of the network, there was a significant increase in demand for batteries, the realization of which increased more than 3 times, and inverters, which were sold almost 4 times more often than last year. An even greater dynamics of sales growth during the specified period was observed in the category of power banks – their sales soared more than 16 times.

In addition to generators, heaters and charging stations, Ukrainians also actively bought lanterns and walkie-talkies in ALLO stores. Therefore, in October, compared to the same period last year, sales of lanterns increased by 4 times, and radios – by 3 times.

“Despite the expectations of experts regarding the growth of sales of thermoses due to power outages and the cold season, the growth of this category is not yet taking place. Thermoses, sleeping bags and rugs are product categories that show a slight increase in 2022 compared to 2021,” the network reported .

The MOYO company told that the demand for heaters and lamps (by 950 percent), generators and uninterruptible power supplies (by 1,100 percent) and power banks (by 500 percent), and batteries and accumulators (by 90 percent) increased significantly in their stores this fall.

“The MOYO network also actively buys thermal cups, thermoses and canisters and desktop gas tiles, network extension cords. Portable radios and 4G modems on batteries help to stay in touch with the world. Nintendo consoles that work on batteries. And to keep the kids warm, our customers are paying attention to melange children’s envelopes,” the company noted.

And in the chain of stores “Foxtrot” it was noted that among Ukrainians the demand for an ordinary radio with an accumulator or batteries has increased. There is also a frenzy for solar panels and battery racks for them. To interest consumers and equipment from Starlink for wireless Internet.

How much do you have to spend?

So how much money will you have to spend to stay with the light in any situation? In order to make your life as easy as possible during a blackout, you will have to spend a considerable amount. However, the purchase of the most basic (power bank, flashlight) will slightly empty the buyer’s wallet.

“Due to the blockade of Ukrainian seaports, supply chains have become longer, which affects both the delivery time, the cost of logistics, and the final price of goods on the shelf. In addition, the price of goods for the end consumer has been affected by a significant increase in the price of energy resources and an increase in the exchange rate. As a result, the prices of foreign-made goods increased in accordance with the level of devaluation of the hryvnia,” Epicenter emphasized.

MOYO noted that the most noticeable increase in the market was the price of generators. And the prices of lanterns and power banks have changed insignificantly, while, for example, the prices of heaters are kept at the level of August-September.

According to the ALLO company, in October the average check for a lantern increased by 19 percent compared to the previous period and amounted to 1,242 hryvnias. And the average check on a walkie-talkie increased by 44 percent and amounted to 1,514 hryvnias. As for thermal vehicles, the average check has risen in price by 25 percent and is 1,500 hryvnias.

The “Foxtrot” network informed the agency that the cost of generators varies greatly depending on its type, manufacturer, fuel consumption, noise level – from 16 to 45 thousand hryvnias. As noted, when buying a generator, you need to calculate the costs of connection (an additional socket, separate wiring, etc.) – this is another plus of 5-10 thousand hryvnias.

Powerful energy accumulators that charge laptops, smartphones, routers, allow the refrigerator to work for several days without electricity, cost from 35 to 300 thousand hryvnias. Rechargeable lamps, ranging from headlamps, hand-held flashlights to table lamps that can be charged from the mains and then work autonomously for a certain hour, cost from 300 hryvnias.

“A gas cylinder for 20 liters will cost from 3 to 12 thousand hryvnias. Gas tiles for one burner – 1000 hryvnias, for two – 2 thousand hryvnias, for four – 3 thousand hryvnias,” the company noted.

We are overcoming the deficit

In addition to rising prices for currently popular products, Ukrainian buyers are also bothered by their sometimes limited supply. After all, a colossal increase in demand provokes a temporary shortage of certain goods on the market.

“Ukraine has never sold such a large number of flashlights and power banks as today, and generators and uninterruptible power supplies were not even supplied in the volumes that Ukrainian consumers need at the same time. This causes so-called “traffic jams” even at the stage of production of goods, because manufacturers were not ready for such an increase in the Ukrainian market. However, the import of these goods to Ukraine does not stop,” MOYO emphasized.

The commercial director of the Foxtrot network, Vyacheslav Skhylnyi, emphasized that the product is currently in short supply in both Europe and China. And an hour for the fulfillment of orders made by Ukrainian sellers is on average from two weeks to two months, taking into account logistics.

“Closer to the New Year, the situation will improve significantly. According to our forecasts, during December, there will be enough generators, batteries and everything else to satisfy consumption. Logistics is already being worked out, systematic arrivals of such items in the warehouses of all network sellers are expected. There will be a sufficient number,” he predicts he.

So, despite the hype for certain product categories, Ukrainians can still find online or offline the necessary products to overcome the darkness and cold. However, in order to be fully prepared for new challenges, you will have to spend a considerable sum. After all, prices for energy-generating and energy-saving products have jumped.

Instead, domestic retailers are trying to diversify their assortment so that every buyer can buy what he needs. It is also expected that in the near future the Ukrainian market will be filled in such a way that there will be the necessary quantity of all goods on the shelves and there will be no shortage of any categories. And this gives hope for the stabilization of prices for these goods.

Therefore, we do not panic, because this is exactly what the Russian occupiers expect from us. Let’s get warm clothes, stay in line, and keep the light in our soul that no insidious rascals will ever be able to extinguish.

Alyona Kyrychenko