Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed the need for his infrastructure and community engagement advisor, Oleksandr Kubrakov, to assist in addressing the energy challenges faced by Kyiv. During a briefing, Zelensky acknowledged the city’s difficult situation and emphasized the importance of cooperation with local authorities, stating, “If they want state assistance, we will help them as much as possible.”
Earlier, Zelensky revealed that the National Security and Defense Council had approved resilience plans for all regions and regional cities, with the exception of Kyiv, which has been granted additional time to prepare necessary documentation. He noted that the capital has been given an extra week to develop its resilience plan in anticipation of the upcoming winter.
“It is essential to work for the people and the state. If the plan is not secured, the capital will face a winter similar to the previous one,” he added.
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko has indicated that the city’s resilience plan, which involved input from energy sector experts, requires both financial and legislative support from the state. However, he reported that local authorities have been informed that assistance will not be forthcoming at this time. “The overall budget for the country’s support to cities in implementing resilience plans did not include Kyiv,” he stated in a Telegram message.
In light of severe winter conditions, Russian forces have intensified their attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Kyiv has experienced stricter power restrictions, and some households have been left without heating. Following a recent Russian strike, significant damage occurred at the Darnytsia Thermal Power Plant, which serves approximately 500,000 residents in the Dnipro and Darnytsia districts of Kyiv. Klitschko noted that its restoration would require at least two months.
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces Air Command, Ukrainian military forces have successfully repelled 14 large-scale combined Russian attacks throughout the winter.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has called for assistance in addressing Kyiv's energy crisis, highlighting the need for collaboration with local authorities. As winter approaches, the city faces significant challenges due to intensified Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure.