A third of the capital’s residents still remain without electricity – However, in front of the Hagia Sophia cathedral this year, a 12-metre artificial tree was decorated with energy-saving lights powered by a generator
Restored today to Kyiv the provision of essential services following the latest wave of Russian airstrikes on critical infrastructure.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that a quarter of Kiev remains without heatingbut that the subway system is back in operation and all residents have water supply again from early in the morning.
Only about a third of the city remained without power, he said, but emergency shutdowns will still be in place to conserve power. “Because the electricity deficit is significant,” Klitschko wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched more than 70 missiles on Friday in one of the heaviest barrages of attacks it has unleashed since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, forcing emergency power outages across the country.
Ukraine managed to restore electricity to nearly 6 million people in the past 24 hours, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“Repair work continues non-stop after yesterday’s terrorist attack… Of course, there is still a lot of work to be done to stabilize the system,” he said in a video message.
“There are problems with heating supplies. There are big problems with water supply,” Zelensky added, saying that Kyiv as well as Vinnytsia and Lviv further west are facing the most difficulties.
Earlier this month, Kyiv’s mayor warned of an “Apocalypse” scenario for the capital if Russian airstrikes on infrastructure continue, although he also said there was no need to evacuate residents just yet.
“We are fighting and doing everything we can to make sure this doesn’t happen,” he told Reuters on December 7.
In a hazy winter fog today, officials they reopened a popular footbridge which had been destroyed in a previous air raid and they were setting up a – smaller than usual – Christmas tree in a central square.
In front of the Hagia Sophia Cathedral this year a 12-meter long artificial tree was decorated with energy-saving lights powered by a generator.
Orthodox Christians make up the majority of Ukraine’s 43 million inhabitants.
Klitschko said the tree was funded by donors and businesses and that there would be no public celebrations.
“I doubt this will be a real holiday,” said Kiev resident Irena Solotchuk, who arrived with her daughter to see the tree hours after another round of air raid warning sirens sounded across the country.
“But we have to understand that we are all together, that we have to help each other,” she added.
RES-EMP
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
