President Zelensky criticizes Kyiv’s response to Russian attacks, causing heating outages as temperatures drop to -18°C, with Mayor Klichko defending the city’s efforts.
Problems in Kyiv Following Russian Attacks
In the Ukrainian capital, heating has been missing in hundreds of buildings for nearly a week, and temperatures dropped to -18°C last night. This is the result of Russian strikes on city heating plants. Residents are also struggling with multi-hour power outages. Despite increased work by repair crews, hot water does not reach nearly 400 multi-family homes in several districts of Kyiv. City authorities have activated mobile boilers, but this is not enough. The poor technical condition of heating lines is also causing problems. Over 1,200 so-called “points of resilience” are operating in the Ukrainian capital, where Kyiv residents can warm up and charge their phones.
Zelenski Reacts to Kyiv Situation
Volodymyr Zelenski reacted to the situation in Kyiv. According to the president, “very little has been done” in the capital regarding the crisis in the energy sectors. “Even today I don’t see that intensity (of actions – ed.), we must urgently fix everything. There must be some solutions,” Zelenski noted in a speech published on X on January 14. He added that the situation in many Ukrainian cities has been analyzed and “it is particularly difficult in Kyiv.” “We see how much has been done, especially in Kharkov – local authorities there were prepared,” the politician pointed out. He also called for “increasing the possibilities of importing electricity” to the capital. In another post, he informed that a “permanent coordination center” will deal with the situation in Kyiv.
Kyiv Mayor: I Answer You Publicly, Forgive Me
In response to Zelenski’s publication, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klichko wrote on Telegram: “What ‘intensity’ of work in Kyiv in an extraordinary situation does the president not see, especially in recent days?” At the same time, he pointed out that after the Russian attack, out of 6,000 buildings without heating, only 400 remained after several days, and municipal services and energy workers are working around the clock “repairing the critical infrastructure damaged by the enemy” and “trying to restore electricity in homes for at least a few hours.”
Klichko also emphasized that facilities such as hospitals or nursing homes are constantly connected to “autonomous power sources,” and social workers “are distributing hot meals to lonely, bedridden residents of Kyiv.” Critical infrastructure objects in Kyiv are also to be continuously supplied with generators. For this reason, Vitali Klichko stated that the Ukrainian president’s statement “depreciates the sacrificial work of thousands of people, specialists.” “Although they don’t have weapons in their hands, with their tireless efforts they are also fighting for their country. Meanwhile – total hate,” added the Mayor of Kyiv. He also informed that he advised residents of Kyiv to leave the city if they have the opportunity. “I at least speak honestly and warn people about the extremely difficult situation. And I don’t care about any ratings or illusory elections,” he addressed Zelenski.
“I answer you publicly, forgive me. Because for the last four years, Mr. President, unfortunately, we have never met personally,” Klichko wrote.
