President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in Ukraine’s energy sector, with special attention on Kyiv. This comes as the Ukrainian capital continues to experience widespread electricity and heating outages in subzero temperatures, due to recent Russian strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure.
Zelensky announced the state of emergency on Wednesday, following a meeting with government officials. “The consequences of Russian strikes and deteriorating weather conditions are severe. Repair crews, energy companies, municipal services, and the State Emergency Service of Ukraine continue to work around the clock to restore electricity and heating. Many issues require urgent resolution,” he said in a statement.
Zelensky added that the government is working to “significantly increase” electricity imports to Ukraine and that he had ordered a review of nighttime curfew regulations to allow residents better access to assistance points during extreme cold weather.
Russia has repeatedly targeted Kyiv with mass missile and drone strikes since January 9, knocking out power, heating, and water supplies across the city. The most recent mass overnight strike left 70 percent of the capital without power on January 13, according to The Kyiv Independent.
On Wednesday, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported that emergency power outages are ongoing in the capital and 400 apartment buildings are still without heating. “The situation in Kyiv is very difficult. This is the first [time] in four-years of full-scale war that we’ve seen this on such a scale,” he wrote on Telegram.