UKRAINE: With heavy snowfall expected in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko says the electricity supply has been restored in 90 percent of residential buildings.
Day and nighttime lows will be below freezing for the millions of people residing in and around the Ukrainian capital.
On Saturday, the country’s grid operator, Ukrenergo, reported that just three-quarters of the nation’s consumption needs could be met by energy production, forcing limitations and blackouts.
The situation in the city has improved but is still “quite difficult,” according to Sergey Kovalenko, chief operating officer of YASNO, which supplies Kyiv with energy. He stated that power should be available to the public for at least four hours daily.
Kovalenko posted on his Facebook page, “If you haven’t had at least four hours of electricity in the past day, write to DTEK Kyiv Electric Networks, colleagues will help you figure out what the problem is.”
The largest private energy supplier in Ukraine, DTEK, has a retail division called YASNO.
Following the most recent Russian bombing last week, which caused the biggest damage to Ukraine to date and left millions of people without light, water, or heat, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that 6 million people were without power on Friday.
According to the Kremlin, Moscow’s attacks on energy infrastructure result from Kyiv’s refusal to negotiate, even though Moscow claims it does not target the civilian population.
Zelensky on Friday criticized the mayor of Kyiv for what he said was a bad job putting up emergency shelters to help those without electricity and heat after Russian attacks, in a rare public disagreement between Ukrainian politicians.
Blackouts will persist, according to Ukrenergo, who also advised very sparingly using electricity.
In a message posted to the Telegram messaging service, it wrote, “We would like to remind you that now that every Ukrainian home has had electricity restored, we can help restore it to others faster, simply by consuming electricity sparingly.”
Also Read: As Harsh Winter Looms, Ukraine Promises to Provide Shelter for Its Citizens
