In Poltava, trolleybuses have stopped due to blackouts: what local authorities are doing.

Trolleybuses in Poltava: electricity problems and solutions

According to inkorr.com: In Poltava, trolleybuses are increasingly not operating on routes due to electricity outages, and buses and minibuses are coming to the rescue instead. This was reported by the Poltava City Council, noting that this situation has arisen due to the shortage of electricity caused by massive Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.

writes 'Suspilne Poltava'

The city council spokesperson Marina Sierova reported that the municipal enterprise 'Poltavaelektroavtotrans' has a generator capable of providing power to substations in critical conditions. It should be noted that the number of buses and minibuses meets passenger demand, and the changes only concern the routes.

Reasons for trolleybus problems in Poltava

In 2024, 'Poltavaelektroavtotrans' became one of the critically important enterprises in the region, but in 2025, some of its substations were excluded from this list. This led to problems with the stable operation of trolleybuses during electricity outages.

The city authorities, together with 'Poltavaelektroavtotrans', 'Poltavaoblenergo', and the military administration, are currently looking for technical solutions to restore uninterrupted transport services.

Cost of modernizing trolleybuses

According to the city council, of the 72 trolleybuses, only 52 can be retrofitted for autonomous operation. The other vehicles are outdated and cannot be modernized.

The estimated cost of retrofitting one trolleybus ranges from 4 to 11 million hryvnias. The total modernization of the entire fleet may cost the city budget between 208 and 572 million hryvnias.

The problem with trolleybuses in Poltava emphasizes the need for urgent measures to improve electricity supply and modernize public transport. In conditions of uncertainty and frequent electricity outages, it is important to provide reliable public transport for the city's residents, which will ensure comfortable mobility and support the livelihoods of the population.