“Kyiv may lose electricity, water and heating supplies. The Apocalypse can happen, like in Hollywood movies,” said Mayor Vitali Klitschko
The mayor of Kiev warned today of the danger of an ‘Apocalypse’ scenario in the Ukrainian capital this winter in case Russian airstrikes on infrastructure continue, but stressed that there is no immediate need to evacuate residents, although they should be prepared to do so.
“Kyiv may lose electricity, water and heating supplies. The Apocalypse can happen, like in Hollywood movies, when it is not possible to live in houses considering the low temperatures,” Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in an interview with Reuters.
“But we are fighting and doing everything we can to make sure that doesn’t happen,” said the former boxer, his voice booming to get the message across to his countrymen.
However, the picture is bleak: the capital does not have enough heated shelters to accommodate all 3.6 million Kyiv residents in the event of total power outages, and people should be prepared to leave the area if the situation worsens, Klitschko said.
“We have prepared almost 500 centers that have autonomous heating right now… but for a city of 3 million, 500 centers is nothing,” he said.
Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxing champion before entering the political arena, painted a picture of a grim future for the more than 1,500-year-old Ukrainian capital.
One possible scenario he mentioned is for the city to be left without central heating until spring at a time when temperatures can drop as low as -15 degrees Celsius.
“If the power supply continues to be out while the outside temperatures remain cold, we will unfortunately have to drain water from the buildings,” he said.
“Otherwise the water can freeze and break the entire water supply network and the buildings will then be completely unfit for further use.”
Klitschko urged residents to prepare emergency supplies of food and water, and to have clothes and documents ready for a quick departure if the heating supply is cut off.
However, the mayor said there is currently no need to evacuate the capital, as Kyiv has a 20% electricity deficit and conditions remain stable.
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