“The residents need more protection”: Selenskyj criticizes Klitschko’s work in Kyiv – without naming him

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has criticized the work of the Kyiv city administration in repairing damage after the massive Russian attacks on the energy supply. “Tonight 600,000 subscribers in the city are switched off,” said Zelenskyj in his evening video address on Friday. “Many Kiev citizens were without electricity for more than 20 or even 30 hours.” He expects quality work from the mayor’s office.

The President did not name Mayor Vitali Klitschko. He was particularly annoyed that there were fewer heat rooms than necessary in the capital, which has three million inhabitants. Klitschko had reported in the morning that 400 of these contact points had been set up. In the event of power outages lasting more than one day, citizens should be able to warm up there; there should be electricity, water, first aid and internet.

“There are many complaints, especially in Kyiv,” Zelenskyy said. In fact, there are only functioning warming rooms in the civil defense buildings and at the train station. “There is still work to be done in other areas, to say the least,” the president said. “Kyiv residents need more protection.”

Nationwide, six million points of consumption are still without electricity, said Zelenskyj. On Wednesday evening after the Russian attack, there were twelve million consumption points.

He warned people to be frugal even when there is light. “If there is electricity, it doesn’t mean that you can switch on several powerful electrical devices at the same time.” Every evening there are peaks in consumption, which in turn lead to new power outages.

Selenskyj and Klitschko put their political competition on hold during the war. But it continues, as the President’s statements show. (dpa)

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