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Ukraine’s Kyivstar Boosts Backup Power as Russian Strikes Threaten Energy Grid

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Ukraine’s largest mobile operator Kyivstar is stepping up efforts to keep its telecommunications network running as renewed Russian attacks on energy infrastructure put mounting strain on the country’s fragile power grid, CEO Oleksandr Komarov told Reuters on Monday.

“Right now, we have more than 3,500 stationary generators connected to the network in real time,” Komarov said. “But the pressure on the energy infrastructure is also growing… The only answer we have is to increase the number of generators connected to the network.”

Russia’s latest barrage of drones and missiles on Saturday targeted nuclear substations and other critical energy sites, killing seven people. State-owned energy firm Tsentrenergo described it as the largest attack on its facilities since the war began in 2022.

Since the start of the invasion, Kyivstar has worked to harden its network against power outages. Core systems now have backup power for up to three days, while more than 90,000 connection boxes in apartment buildings are equipped with solutions that allow them to function for 10–12 hours during blackouts.

The upgrades are part of Kyivstar’s broader resilience plan to ensure continuity of service across Ukraine despite recurring infrastructure damage.

Meanwhile, Kyivstar — which became the first Ukrainian company listed on a U.S. stock exchange in August — continues to navigate geopolitical and market volatility.

Komarov said U.S. institutional investors see the company as “significantly undervalued” given the wartime context, while Veon, Kyivstar’s parent company, is working with Ukrainian authorities to enable local investors to buy shares.

Earlier Monday, Kyivstar reported a 20% increase in third-quarter revenue to $297 million, supported by steady macroeconomic conditions and international support that have helped stabilize Ukraine’s currency.

92-Year-Old Edwin Rayner Becomes TikTok Sensation with ‘Grandad Sings’

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Edwin Rayner, a 92-year-old singer from Bournemouth, Dorset, has taken TikTok by storm, amassing nearly half a million followers and millions of views. His journey to social media fame began after the loss of his wife, Margaret, whom he had been married to for 60 years. Feeling adrift after her passing, Edwin found new purpose when, he believes, Margaret sent him a message urging him to sing again.

“I was given a message, and I’m sure it was Margaret telling me: ‘You can sing, come on, you need to start again,'” Edwin shared. He began performing at local care homes, often belting out tunes by his favorite artist, Elvis Presley. But it wasn’t until his granddaughters introduced him to TikTok that Edwin’s online career took off.

“I had no idea what it was,” he recalled, laughing. “After a few days, I had over a thousand likes. I thought, ‘Well, that’s a good start,’ and it just kept going from there.”

Known on social media as Grandad Sings, Edwin now has almost nine million views on TikTok, along with 150,000 followers on Instagram. His granddaughters assist with uploading one song each week, recorded at a local studio with the help of a musician. Over the past year, Edwin released a Christmas album and is now working on his eighth album, which he shares with family and friends but cannot sell due to copyright restrictions.

A lifelong singer, Edwin served as an RAF medic in North Africa from 1950 to 1952. Later, he ran a successful tropical fish business in Tenerife. Despite the hardships of aging, Edwin credits his family and his wife’s memory for his resilience.

“Age doesn’t matter,” he said. “People think at 90, 92, you’re finished. You’re not. Keep doing whatever you want to do. Only do it more so.”

One of Edwin’s favorite songs to perform is “The Wonder of You” by Elvis Presley, which he dedicates to his late wife. He often reflects on how Margaret continues to guide him, saying, “I feel that she’s with me, she’s there all the time. She’s probably watching right now telling me what to say, or what not to say. I miss her.”