Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Ukrainian government asks the country’s refugees not to return to their country. This is due to the threat of an energy crisis in the middle of winter following the Russian attack on the country’s energy sources.
This was stated on Tuesday by Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk, quoted on Wednesday (26/10/2022). According to him, staying away from Ukraine for a while is the best option to protect them from risks and help his country “survive” the energy crisis.
“Russia lost on the battlefield and therefore turned to terrorize the civilian population by targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” he said on national TV, quoted by Reuters. RT.
“I would like to ask you guys not to come back. We have to survive the winter … the electricity grid won’t last. You don’t have to (go back to Ukraine). If you have the opportunity to stay, it is better to spend the winter abroad. “, he added.
He also explained that the situation is bound to get worse. Therefore, he asked the residents to stay abroad first, while the government thought of other plans.
“Our children have to live and study here, but for now let’s talk about it,” he stressed.
“Because we understand that the situation will get worse and we will have to survive the winter … We will think of something else”.
According to a survey published in August by the Razumkov center in Kiev, more than 90% of Ukrainian refugees plan to return home. More than 88% intend to return they lived in the same area they lived in before the start of the Russian offensive on February 24.
Ukraine itself has experienced regular power outages since Moscow launched a massive attack on its critical infrastructure, including power plants, on 10 October. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has since called on his citizens to reduce stress on the energy system by limiting their electricity consumption between 5pm and 11pm.
Meanwhile, the head of the state-owned energy giant Naftogaz, Yuri Vitrenko, said Ukraine is facing “the worst winter in history”. It is characterized by “constant power outages”.
He explained that recent Russian airstrikes have also hit oil refineries. It even destroyed about 40% of the plant.
On the same day, Ukrainian online retailer Rozetka revealed that there has been a sharp increase in demand for goods needed in the event of an energy crisis in the past two weeks. Such as flat-bottomed stoves, power banks, candles and gas stoves.
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