With full loss of power, water, heating still possible, Kyiv authorities ask citizens to stock up on essentials
As a result of mass targeted attacks by Russians on the energy infrastructure of Ukrainian cities, blackouts began (Photo:REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Residents of the Ukrainian capital Kyiv should stock up on essentials and be prepared to evacuate the city if Russian missile attacks knock out power, heat and water supplies completely, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on national television on Nov. 5.
“We're doing our best to avoid it (full blackout),” Klitschko said.
“But frankly speaking, our enemy is doing everything possible to leave the city without heating, electricity and water supplies. In general, it’s doing all it can to erase us from the face of the earth.”
The mayor said that like the authorities, citizens should be prepared for any possible scenario. He said the city had prepared a large stock of diesel fuel, power generators, food, and drinking water.
About 1,000 “heating points” are being prepared for deployment across the city should the city’s centralized heating system be knocked out. Still, this would not be enough, he said.
“So I’m also appealing to people – in the worst case scenario without power and water supply in the city, think about going to your relatives and friends in Kyiv's outskirts or further, (those with) with independent utilities. It would be better to agree to spend some time there in the worst case scenario.”
He also urged Kyivans to stock up on drinking and technical water, food, charged power banks and warm clothes. According to Klitschko, about 3 million people now live in the capital, and many more people commute there in daytime from the suburbs.
In the aftermath of Russians' targeted mass attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, rolling blackouts were put in place, especially in Kyiv and nearby regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that as of Nov. 1, Russia had damaged about 40% of Ukraine’s energy facilities.
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