Deadly storms kill three and knock out power across hundreds of Ukrainian towns

Interior Ministry units are continuing to deal with the aftermath of the severe weather, he said.

“Overall, more than 700 settlements in 19 regions are currently without power. Roofs of dozens of residential buildings, municipal facilities, schools and vehicles have been damaged. Unfortunately, three people were killed — in Zaporizhzhya, Zakarpattia and Cherkasy Oblast,” Klymenko said.

State Emergency Service rescuers responded to more than 400 calls the day before, cutting up fallen trees, dismantling dangerous structures and helping victims, the minister said.

“Eight people, including a child, were injured in the severe weather. In Zaporizhzhya, squally winds damaged the roof of a concert hall during a performance: rescuers quickly dismantled the unsafe structures and protected the audience,” the interior minister said.

Police stepped up patrols after the storms began and set up detours around blocked roads, he added.

“Recovery work will continue today,” Klymenko said.

He also warned that wind gusts would continue across most of Ukraine today, with a level 1 yellow weather alert in effect, and urged people to exercise caution.

The State Emergency Service earlier reported two deaths and two injuries, including a child, due to severe weather in various Ukrainian regions on April 26. Rescuers said 1,121 settlements lost power over the previous day.

“In Cherkasy, a person was killed when a tree fell on an ATV while it was moving. Another person was killed in Zakarpattia when a tree fell. In Poltava, a tree injured a child,” the State Emergency Service reported during the day on April 26.

The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center, meanwhile, warned that wind gusts in Ukraine, except in the western oblasts, would reach 15–20 meters per second on April 27.

“Level 1 danger, yellow. Overnight on April 27 and 28, air temperatures are expected to fall to 0–3 degrees Celsius (32–37 degrees Fahrenheit). Level 2 danger, orange,” the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center said.

Forecasters also said frost at ground level of 0–5 degrees Celsius (32–41 degrees Fahrenheit) was expected in southern and southeastern Ukraine on April 27.

“Level 1 danger, yellow,” the Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center warned.