Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has warned of an apocalyptic scenario for the Ukrainian capital this winter if Russian airstrikes on Ukrainian infrastructure continue. He specified that there is currently no need for residents to evacuate, although they should be prepared for that as well, Reuters reported.
“Kiev could run out of electricity, water and heating. The apocalypse can happen, like in a Hollywood moviewhen it will not be possible to continue living in our homes due to low temperatures”the mayor said in an interview with Reuters.
“But we are fighting and doing everything in our power to make sure that doesn’t happen.”added Klitschko.
But the picture is bleak: The capital lacks heated shelters to accommodate a total of 3.6 million residents in the event of a total blackout, and people must be prepared to evacuate if the situation worsens, the former boxer said.
“We currently have almost 500 separate heated centers… but for a city of 3 million, that’s nothing”the mayor said.
Klitschko, who is a former world heavyweight boxing champion, painted a picture of a harsh winter coming to the 1,500-year-old Ukrainian capital. He described a scenario in which the city could be left without heating until spring, when temperatures could drop to minus 15 degrees.
“If the power outages continue while temperatures remain low, we will sadly be forced to pump water out of buildings. Otherwise, the water could freeze and damage the entire water system and homes would become completely uninhabitable.”warned Klitschko.
He urged residents to stock up on food and water and to pack clothes and documents ready for a quick departure if the heating is turned off.
However, Klitschko said there was no need for an evacuation at the moment as the city was experiencing a shortfall of only 20% of its electricity supply and conditions in the capital remained stable.
Russia has fired more than 1,000 missiles at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure
Russia has fired more than 1,000 missiles at Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which is still operational despite sustaining significant damage, Ukraine’s Interfax news agency said, citing a senior Ukrainian official, Reuters reported.
Volodymyr Kudrytskyi, chief executive of Ukrainian energy operator Ukrenergo, told a meeting organized by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) that its employees are traveling the world in search of sophisticated equipment needed to repair infrastructure.
Eight recent waves of Russian air strikes against critical infrastructure have severely damaged the electricity grid and led to a state of emergency and blackouts across the country.
“These attacks are the largest attack on a power grid that mankind has ever seen. More than 1,000 artillery shells and rockets were fired at electrical equipment and transmission lines, including substations.”said Kudritsky, quoted by “Interfax”.
Ukraine is now experiencing the most acute generation capacity shortage, although consumption has decreased between 25 and 30 percent compared to the pre-war period.
“The system still works, it’s integrated, it’s not destroyed or broken”Kudritsky also said.
The “Ukrenergo” company announced last week that it had obtained 300 million euros in loans from the EBRD to restore the energy infrastructure damaged in the attacks and to improve the company’s financial stability.
Lithuania and Poland are calling for Ukraine to join NATO and the EU
A parliamentary meeting between Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine resulted in a resolution on joint cooperation for Ukraine’s accession to the EU and NATO as soon as possible, Polish news agency PAP reported.
The resolution was adopted in the capital of Lithuania – Vilnius and was signed by the heads of parliamentary delegations of the three countries.
The document states that a Ukrainian victory in the war with Russia is of existential importance for Ukraine and for all of Europe, and that the missile attack in eastern Poland is a sign of Russia’s threatening actions against Ukraine and its neighbors.
The resolution stresses the need for maximum defense of NATO’s airspace and strengthening of the Eastern flank of the Alliance.
The joint parliamentary session condemned Russia for its “irresponsible and highly provocative” rhetoric regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons, as well as Moscow’s attempts to annex provinces from Ukraine.
The parliaments of the three countries called on the international community to continue and strengthen the sanctions imposed on Russia in order to weaken its ability to wage war against Ukraine, as well as to provide political, economic, financial, humanitarian and military assistance until defeat of Ukraine .
Furthermore, the parliamentarians of the joint session demanded that Russia be excluded from the UN, in particular from the UN Security Council, and from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
