Ukraine: Volodymyr Zelenskyj blames Vitali Klitschko for power outages in Kyiv

After Russian attacks, especially in the capital Kyiv, the power continues to go out. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenskyj has now once again criticized Mayor Vitali Klitschko. “These are the consequences of unimplemented decisions at the city level to prepare for the heating season and for this Russian operation against the Ukrainian energy industry,” the head of state wrote on Telegram.

The situation is therefore particularly difficult in the city of three million people, said the President. Residents and businesses are suffering from long power and water shutdowns. “The challenges are very serious,” wrote Zelensky.

In recent weeks, the Russian military has intensified its drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities. Millions of Ukrainians have to live in autumnal temperatures without heating and with power and water outages. Zelensky warned on Friday evening of new Russian attacks on energy facilities, but also on the important bridges over the Dnipro River.

Klitschko rejected the allegations. "How was the capital supposed to prevent the 'Russian special operation against the Ukrainian energy industry'?" he asked on Telegram. He pointed out that district heating has been supplied in Kyiv since October 16th. Representatives of the capital were also not invited to the consultations mentioned by the head of state.

Klitschko speaks of “manipulation” and “lies”

In October, Zelenskyj also sharply criticized his mayor. The implementation of emergency plans for the winter is "more advanced practically throughout the country than in Kyiv," he said after the consultations.

Klitschko now accused Zelenskyj of “manipulation” and “lies” with the accusations against Kyiv. “It all looks disgusting for the residents of the capital,” he wrote. This also goes against the work of the skilled workers who “do the practically impossible under fire around the clock, risking their lives.”

The mayor doubted Zelensky's knowledge of the "real situation regarding energy supply." Klitschko called on the president to stop looking for culprits in this difficult situation. The country can only hold its own with constructive cooperation and cooperation between all structures and experts, he wrote. There will be time for conclusions later.

According to Zelensky, the government is taking additional measures to help those affected by the power outages. There are also new agreements with Germany and Spain. "I spoke to heads of state and government and companies during my visits," explained the President. It involves the delivery of generators, cables and other equipment. But there are also problems in the major cities of Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odessa and their surrounding areas as well as in the regions of Zhytomyr, Sumy, Cherkassy, ​​Poltava and Vinnytsia.