It’s Wednesday November 23rd. It is 1:55 pm and Olena Hrynik, a 22-year-old Ukrainian journalist, is at work.
Suddenly it gets dark. It’s not the first time this has happened.
Not long after, Olena and her coworkers are told to come home after a fight Russian attacks on civilian infrastructure in the country.
– The weapon itself
NTB writes that a total of three Ukrainian nuclear power plants were to be shut down immediately. This results in millions of people in and around the city without electricity and heat.
The interview is conducted while you apply for coverage.
– There are massive attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure right now. Russian missiles have flown over various cities and caused serious damage, says the 22-year-old in despair.
Total «blackouts»
Olena says that when the infrastructure is destroyed by Russian missiles, the power is completely cut off.
– This happens so that the experts can work to fix what was destroyed, he says and continues:
Fire Fighting: Firefighters work to extinguish a fire in energy infrastructure structures damaged by a Russian missile attack in the Kyiv region. Photo: State Emergency Service of Ukraine/NTB
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– The problem is that they are not able to repair the structure as quickly as it is destroyed. That’s why we have to go several hours without electricity every single day because attacks cause “blackouts”she says.
“Blackout” is the result of Russia’s attack at the facility of Ukraine, which causes total darkness.
Streetlights go out, tens of thousands of homes go dark, and all appliances shut down.
– We must be prepared
The 22-year-old therefore has great daily challenges as the days – according to her – mainly consist of power outages. Moreover, it is not even clear how long it will have to endure.
– I am extremely vulnerable since I am a journalist. I depend on a PC to write articles and a camera to take pictures.
– It’s about survival
Dagbladet talks to Olena on Telegram. The fact that the electricity has gone out means that she has to plan her day by the minute.
– I have to go out to do an interview while it’s still day outside. What worries me is that tomorrow I will take pictures with my camera. I won’t be able to complete it since I won’t be able to load the equipment, she says hurriedly.
WORKING FROM HOME: When Olena can’t work in the office, she often has to work from home in the dark. Photo: private
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Olena lives 26 km east of Kiev, which is the capital of Ukraine. She says it has already started to snow and the temperature has dropped below zero.
– Now it’s minus three degrees outside, more snow. Just imagine how it is at night. This winter is all about survival.
“The Worst Since World War II”
World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday Nov. 21 he warned that millions of Ukrainian lives are at risk this winter as the country’s electricity grid is severely strained by a series of Russian attacks.
– We expect two to three million people to leave their homes in search of warmth and safety, they write.
– Passive and bad
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitaly Klitschko, told the German newspaper Image which is very concerned.
– Kiev could now face “the worst winter since WWII” due to power outages caused by Russian attacks. Imagine what happens when temperatures drop to minus 20 degrees and below, he told the paper.
He conceded the main goals
Russia has been targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure since early October and has admitted that the country’s energy infrastructure is among its main targets, it writes The independent of Kiev.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged citizens to reduce electricity consumption from 20 October inclusive.
DARKNESS: The satellite image, taken on November 23 by NASA, shows the lights from Europe during the night of November 23. Photo: Nasa/Reuters/NTB
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The attacks have little to do with military rationale but rather to inflict a humanitarian disaster by cutting off civilian access to electricity and heat, according to Kirill Mikhailov, an analyst who studies armed conflict at the Conflict Intelligence Team (CIT ). The independent of Kiev.
Hard to warm up
Olena Hrynik talks about fear of a cold winter. Completely despondent, she says, “Russia wants us to freeze in winter.”
– But I light the fireplace and get dressed in warm clothes now that it’s colder, he says and continues:
– It will be fine, the most important thing is to survive this war and live in a free Ukraine, and not in Russia.
Unreal everyday life
According to BBC news Interior Minister Denys Monastyrsky confirmed ten people were killed after Russia fired 70 rockets into Ukraine on Wednesday.
– We persevere
– Russia is doing this to force Ukraine to the negotiating table, but if the Ukrainian authorities sign a peace deal now, war will return later, says Olena Hrynik, and continues:
– Can you imagine what a horror this is in the modern world?
“Never Happened Before”
Suddenly there is complete silence from the 22-year-old. After many messages, hours now go by without Dagbladet hearing anything from her.
Then, after 30 hours, the first sign of life arrives:
– I was without electricity for almost 30 hours. This has never happened before, he says.
The Washington Post says Ukraine’s energy systems are now on the verge of collapse after several weeks of Russian bombing.
– Missiles hit energy infrastructure and residential areas across the country and three people were killed in Kiev. Millions of people could find themselves in life-threatening conditions without electricity, heat or running water, they write.
Keeps morale up
Although several cities in Ukraine are without electricity for most of the day and evening, the young journalist still keeps his spirits up.
AFFECTED BY POWER OUTAGE: Olena from Ukraine has to spend much of her time in cafes or work from home in the dark. Photo: private
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– Most cafes light candles. It is very romantic and beautiful. I often go to cafes to drink tea or coffee and enjoy the atmosphere. After all, it is sad to be at home without lights, especially in the evening. But as Zelensky said: “Light always defeats the dark”concludes.
