Citizens of Ukraine are preparing for harsh winter with blackouts. Russian strikes cause power interruptions in Kyiv as well, where the temperature already is below freezing, writes Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged residents of severely affected regions, like Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Sumy, and Odesa to think about the ways they can preserve energy. Sergey Kovalenko, the head of the Ukrainian energy company YASNO, added that it is crucial to be prepared for blackouts and to be ready to live prolonged periods without electricity. He told that everyone must think about warm clothes and extra blankets, and everything else that could help to survive winter. He said: «It’s better to do it now than to be miserable.»
The situation is very critical in the recently freed Kherson. Before the withdrawal, the Russian army damaged and destroyed infrastructure, and the city now is without electricity.
On top of that Russian army continues to shell Kherson, and according to Ukrainian authorities it has no military meaning, it is pure revenge against the city’s residents. Russians, however, deny that they intentionally target civilians. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that strikes on infrastructure are consequences for Kyiv’s denial to negotiate.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk urges vulnerable citizens of Kherson to apply for evacuation to safer regions. In her message on Telegram, she especially pointed out the elderly, women with children, and those who are ill or disabled.
Russia still calls ongoing war a «special military operation» to protect Russian-speaking communities.