“Let’s face it: the Russian Federation is trying to commit an energy genocide, but Kyiv and Ukraine will resist,” Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, tweeted about Moscow’s bombing of the Ukrainian capital. The risk is that a total blackout while the commoners try to withstand the cold and darkness with the few and simple means at their disposal, like candles, artisanal stoves and sleeping bags. With the particularly cold winter in Ukraine fast approaching, everyone knows that we must prepare for the worst.
The risk of a total blackout
“We are aware that if Russia continues with these attacks, we could lose the entire power system,” said Roman Tkachuk, head of the municipal security department at the Kyiv city state administration, which is the worst-case scenario the city is facing of the ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Tkachuk further added that at this point “We’re going to start informing citizens and asking them to leave“.
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While officials in Kyiv plan an eventual evacuation of the three million residents remaining in the Ukrainian capital, the state-owned energy company has announced that multiple power outages will be planned in rotation in seven regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv. A necessary decision to prevent the power grid from collapsing completely.
Kyiv is trying to resist
Vitaliy Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, urged residents to stock up on food and drinking water and, if possible, to temporarily move out of the city. “Our enemies are doing everything to make the city without heating, without electricity, without water supply. In general, they want us all to die. And how we are prepared for different situations depends on the future of the country and the future of each of us. We don’t rule it out. We make hypotheses to resist the different scenarios, to prepare,” explained Klitschko. The installation of numerous locations equipped with heating systems but that might not be enough for three million people. However, a mass evacuation is currently ruled out.
Help from the European Union
To support the Ukrainian population’s access to electricity and heating, 17 European Union countries including Italy (the other countries are: Slovenia, Slovakia, Ireland, Austria, Sweden, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Poland, France). 500 power generators through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism. This was announced by the EU’s Directorate-General for Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid in a tweet. In addition, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen promised help during talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy up to 1.5 billion euros per monthfor a total of 18 billion euros.
The Washington Post disclosure
Vladimir Putin’s aim is to test the strength, courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people in order to force Zelenskyy into a deal with Moscow.. As the Washington Post reveals, citing informed sources, the Biden administration is allegedly encouraging Ukrainian leaders to publicly signal an openness to negotiations with Russia and no longer declare their opposition to peace talks with Putin in power. A request from the Biden government not to push Kyiv into negotiations but to ensure that the Ukrainian government maintains support from countries that do not want the war to go on much longer.
As the Washington Post explains, US officials share Ukraine’s position that Putin is not serious about the peace talks for the time being. However, they believe so Zelenskyy’s veto of the Kremlin leader has sparked concern in parts of Europe, Africa and Latin America, where the war’s impact on the cost of living and food shortages is being felt more clearly. “The difficulties caused by the conflict in Ukraine are a very real problem for some of our partners,” a US official told the Washington Post.
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