The mayor of Kyiv has pleaded with the West to send blankets and generators to help Ukraine survive the winter.
51-year-old Vital Klitschko stated that numerous attacks on power plants have rendered his nation destitute and that the grid in the capital is operating in ’emergency mode.’
He pounded his fists on the table while telling the Telegraph, “We are doing everything we can to save the lives of our people and protect them.”
However, this winter will be a formidable obstacle for us.
Due to Russian attacks on power stations and the broader grid over the past two weeks, Ukraine has struggled with outages and been concerned about the system surviving the winter.
It has severely damaged 40 percent of the energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
Even though Mr. Klitschko has purchased generators and organized 1,000 mobile heating points in Kyiv with the assistance of his team, fears continue to grow as the weather gets colder.
He stated yesterday via Telegram, ‘Due to a 20% to 50% electricity shortage, the city’s energy distribution system is operating in emergency mode.
In the same post, Klitschko confirmed reports from the regional governor and Ukrenergo, the state energy company, that rolling blackouts are imminent in Kyiv and the surrounding region.
Klitschko expressed optimism that Ukrenergo employees would restore normal electricity flow within two to three weeks, barring unforeseen circumstances.
Vitali had also announced on Ukrainian television that new air defense equipment had arrived in the capital, expressing hope that it would assist in protecting the country’s energy infrastructure following weeks of targeted Russian airstrikes.
During a recent meeting, he stated, “The military has assured me that new air defense equipment has arrived in the capital and that our skies will be safer.”
“We hope there will be no more attacks and provocations with kamikaze drones and missiles,” Klitschko said, referring to the Shahed exploding drones made in Iran that have been repeatedly spotted flying over Ukrainian cities.
According to Mr. Klitschko, the Russian president’s desire to claim a minor victory in his war prompted a change in strategy involving attacks on power stations and the broader grid.
General Sergei Surovikin, the newest commander of the Kremlin’s invasion, coordinated the drone and missile attacks.
Residents of Kyiv were informed that the region’s electricity supply would “sharply deteriorate” as a result of the strikes.
Electricity is currently one of the only methods that Ukrainians have to heat their homes, as many are living in war-ravaged buildings that do not have gas and windows.
And it has become apparent that the freezing weather is turning into a new weapon for Putin, in the hope that residents will be so cold they will obey him.
It comes as temperatures are expected to sink to as low as -20C in some areas of Ukraine in the coming days.
Mr Klitschko said that he is grateful for the support of Western countries but added that aid that has been given has been too slow to come.
He made the remarks after receiving a fire engine and two ambulances from a German charitable foundation.
He also pleaded for blankets, winter clothes and generators as well as heavy weaponry and air-defence systems.
The Kyiv mayor said that the clothing and blankets are essential for Ukrainians as the winter comes.
He made the move into politics after being a heavyweight boxing star for more than a decade.
Along with brother Wladimir, he is a popular personality in Ukraine. And he has solicited support for the entire Ukraine with the aid of Wladimir.
Vitali was on a list of targets for Russian assassins when the war first began to rumble in Ukraine.
But he is unconcerned about the threat and has continued to lobby for support and travel the world in order to get weaponry for his country.
He said that the country will never have enough weapons deliveries and added that enough is enough when the war is over.
Vitali said that he was sad to say that if it was possible, then Ukrainians should stay away from the country over the winter, as there is a risk of a humanitarian issue.
He discussed the violence against civilians in other Ukrainian suburbs and stated that he believes Putin’s failure in the Donbas has prompted him to target civilians directly.
He stated that Putin is a liar and that the so-called war is in fact genocide.
Vitali has gained immense popularity by remaining in Ukraine.