Zelensky blames Klitschko for Kyiv power outages, Digi Mart USA News (Kyiv, Ukraine): Power outages caused by Russian attacks, particularly in the capital Kyiv, are occurring repeatedly. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has once again criticized Mayor Vitali Klitschko, writing on Telegram that the consequences stem from unimplemented municipal decisions on preparing for the heating season and from the Russian operation against Ukraine’s energy sector.
According to Zelensky, the situation is especially severe in the city of three million people, where residents and businesses suffer from long shutdowns of electricity and water. “The challenges are very serious,” he wrote.
In recent weeks, Russian forces have intensified drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian energy facilities. Millions of Ukrainians must live without heating, with power and water outages, in autumn temperatures.
On Friday evening, Zelensky also warned of new Russian attacks on energy facilities and on important bridges over the Dnipro River.
Klitschko rejected the accusations. Writing on Telegram, he asked how the capital should have prevented the “Russian special operation against the Ukrainian energy sector.” He noted that Kyiv has been receiving district heating since October 16.
He also said city representatives were not invited to the consultations mentioned by the head of state.
In October, Zelensky had also sharply criticized the mayor. He said implementation of winter emergency plans had progressed “practically throughout the country further than in Kyiv” following consultations.
Klitschko now accused Zelensky of “manipulation” and “lying” with his accusations against Kyiv. “Everything looks disgusting in relation to the residents of the capital,” he wrote.
He said this also undermines the work of technicians who, “under fire around the clock, accomplish practically impossible tasks” at risk to their lives.
The mayor questioned Zelensky’s knowledge of the “real situation regarding the energy supply” and urged the president to stop searching for culprits in this difficult situation. He wrote that the country can only endure through constructive cooperation and coordination of all structures and experts, adding that there would be time for conclusions later.
According to Zelensky, the government is taking additional measures to help those affected by the outages. New agreements have also been reached with Germany and Spain.
“I spoke about this with heads of state and government and companies during my visits,” the president said. The arrangements involve delivery of generators, cables and other equipment.
Zelensky said problems also exist in the major cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv and Odesa and their surroundings, as well as in the regions of Zhytomyr, Sumy, Cherkasy, Poltava and Vinnytsia.
