The head of state, in an evening video message (published on Facebook by the OP) on January 14, said that he held a meeting on the emergency situation in Ukraine’s energy sector due to Russian strikes and winter weather.
According to Zelensky, at the meeting they “separately analyzed the situation” in some cities.
“It’s especially difficult in Kyiv. Also Odessa, the Dnepropetrovsk region – Dnepr, Krivoy Rog, some of our other cities and regions. We see a lot – it’s been done, in particular, in Kharkov – the local authorities there have prepared. Kyiv, unfortunately, has done much less – very little has been done in the capital. And even these days I don’t see the intensity – we need to fix all this urgently now. There must be solutions,” the president said.
As Zelensky noted, a state of emergency in the energy sector will be legally recorded in Ukraine, which will “give more opportunities.”
Klitschko commented on the president’s words about Kyiv on January 14.
“What “intensity” of work in Kyiv in an emergency situation does the president not see, in particular in recent days, as he said? – the mayor wrote. – When, after a devastating attack, out of six thousand houses, about 400 are left without heat in a few days? When utility workers, around the clock in the bitter cold, repair critical infrastructure damaged by the enemy in order to return heat and water to people? When power engineers try, also working 24/7, to return light to the homes of Kiev residents for at least a few hours?”
Klitschko added that in Kyiv, social institutions are also connected to autonomous sources – hospitals, maternity hospitals, nursing homes, psychoneurological dispensaries, and social workers are delivering hot food to lonely bedridden Kiev residents.
In addition, workers in the capital’s heating centers are on duty around the clock to receive Kiev residents, and generators power critical infrastructure, the mayor of Kyiv emphasized.
“Such statements, first of all, neutralize the selfless work of thousands of people, specialists. Although they do not have weapons in their hands, with their tireless efforts they also fight for their country,” Klitschko said.
He complained of “total hate” because he advised those who have the opportunity to temporarily move outside the city “so as not to freeze” without light and heat.
“At least I speak honestly and warn people about a very difficult situation. And I don’t care about any ratings and ghostly elections,” Klitschko said.
The mayor stated that he personally and all services during the emergency in Kyiv “are doing everything to maintain the vital functions of the city,” as well as “preserve the health and lives of residents,” and “will continue to do this in the future.”
“I’m answering you, sorry, publicly. Because over the last four years, Mr. President, we have personally never met…”, Klitschko concluded.
Context
The aggressor country of the Russian Federation, against the backdrop of a cold snap in Ukraine, is attacking the country’s critical infrastructure facilities. Thus, on the night of January 13, the invaders fired at the DTEK thermal power plant, the company’s press service reported. As a result of the attack, the equipment of the thermal power plant was significantly damaged.
DTEK Kyiv Electric Grids indicated that until that night the situation on the left bank of Kyiv was worse than on the right. But after another Russian attack on January 13, emergency power outages began to apply throughout Kyiv.
Klitschko warned that there was not enough capacity even to provide critical infrastructure.
Due to power outages in Kyiv and the region, some supermarkets may temporarily stop operating, the Novus and Silpo networks reported on January 13.
On January 14, Klitschko announced a very difficult situation in Kyiv. According to him, about 400 multi-storey buildings in Kyiv remained without heating (out of those 6 thousand where there was no heating supply after the massive attack on January 9). The situation with energy supply, on which the provision of public services depends, also “remains very difficult,” Klitschko added.
At the same time, the newly appointed head of the Ministry of Energy Denis Shmygal said on January 14 that Kyiv “not prepared at all” for winter.
