Authors: Olina Hammash and Sergi Kalazi
KYIV, Jan 16 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s capital Kiev faces its worst wartime energy crisis, with electricity demand at about half as Russia launches waves of attacks on its infrastructure, mayor Vitali Klitschko told Reuters on Friday.
Klitschko said Kiev is one of the largest cities in Eastern Europe and needs 1,700 megawatts of electricity to serve its 3.6 million people.
Klitschko said the current energy crisis is the most difficult challenge the capital has faced in the nearly four years since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Klitschko said in an interview at his office in central Kiev: “During such a severe frost, most parts of the city were without heating and there was a serious power shortage. This is the first time in the history of our city.”
Some Kiev residents face up to 18 to 20 hours a day without mains power. Ukraine declared an energy emergency this week as its power grid collapsed from accumulated wartime damage and a new round of targeted bombing by Russia.
The cold weather combined with sleet, ice and snow added to the challenge. Nighttime minimum temperatures in Kiev have dropped to around -17 degrees Celsius (1 degree Fahrenheit) this week.
Quick repairs, generators and international assistance
Klitschko said last week’s strike in Russia knocked out power to 6,000 apartment buildings, and Ukraine’s international partners had rushed in more generators and maintenance teams were working around the clock to restore heat.
About 100 buildings still don’t have heat, he said.
“We now work not only during the day but also at night,” he said. “For us, there is no such thing as the beginning and end of a workday.”
In addition to repairs and generators, the city has opened about 1,300 stations equipped with heaters to help residents stay warm, and is working to install small thermal power stations in some areas to disperse power and heating.
For generators, the first priority is to provide electricity to ensure water supply and power hospitals, kindergartens and other critical infrastructure, Klitschko said. For this purpose, approximately 300 tons of fuel are required per day.
Klitschko reiterated his call for Kiev residents to leave the city if they get the chance to relieve pressure on infrastructure.
Schools in Kyiv have extended their winter vacation and many business companies have switched to remote working arrangements.
Klitschko said city officials were determined to fully restore heating supplies despite the challenges, and they were also planning backup plans in case new Russian airstrikes damaged energy infrastructure.
“This winter is going to be difficult, but we are doing everything possible and impossible,” Klitschko said.
(Reporting by Olena Harmash; Editing by Daniel Flynn and Alex Richardson)
