What is known
The capital’s mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that on January 19 a repairman died while working on a call in an apartment; he was 60 years old. He called information about two deaths untrue; the source of the report was UNN citing the mayor’s statement. The causes of death are currently being determined by forensic experts.
"Regarding the information being spread about the deaths of two repairmen in the capital. As doctors found, on January 19 one repairman died while working on a call in an apartment in one of the buildings. The man was 60 years old. The causes of death are currently being determined by forensic experts."
— Vitali Klitschko, Mayor of Kyiv
Statements by the MP and context of the crews’ work
Earlier, Member of Parliament Oleksiy Kucherenko posted a message claiming that "in recent days two repairmen simply died from extreme overload" and described the overload situation among emergency crews: staff shortages, working 2–3 days without breaks, cases of frostbite and psychophysical exhaustion. This version was spread on social networks and partly picked up by media outlets, creating an ambiguous information picture ahead of the official findings of medical experts.
"Emergency service repairmen in Kyiv are working in an abnormally intense mode. There are not enough crews, so people work 2–3 days without breaks — they’re practically collapsing from exhaustion. (...) Many have documented frostbite and psychophysical exhaustion. Just remember this."
— Oleksiy Kucherenko, Member of Parliament (post on Facebook)
Why this matters
Even if the current case proves to be an isolated tragedy, it highlights several risks for residents: reduced quality and speed of emergency responses, increased likelihood of mistakes due to staff exhaustion, and potential safety hazards during emergency work. For city residents this is not an abstract story but a matter of uninterrupted services that affect heating, water, and electricity supply.
What’s next
Right now the key thing is to await the results of the forensic medical examination and official inspections of the working conditions of emergency services. At the same time, the city needs to assess crew resources and personnel rotation mechanisms to reduce overload risks. The public and journalists should demand transparent conclusions, and the authorities — concrete measures to prevent a recurrence.
Conclusion
This incident combines the issue of an individual tragedy with systemic challenges. While the examination continues, it is important to stay fact-focused: verified information from the city and the results of the forensic examination should determine next steps. Whether this becomes an impetus for systemic support of emergency crews depends on the forthcoming actions of local authorities and public oversight.
