Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced Wednesday that the authorities in the Ukrainian capital are preparing more than 1,000 heating points in case its district heating system in Kyiv is disabled by continued Russian attacks.
The designated locations will be equipped with generators and will also have a stock of necessities citizens might run out of, such as water.
Noting that, due to missile attacks, city authorities were considering different scenarios, Klitschko wrote on messaging app Telegram that the heating points will be set up throughout the city, pointing out that the worst scenario is where there will be no electric power, water, or district heating at all.
Damaging so far at least 40% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Russian attacks with missiles and drones have already prompted power rationing and briefly left large parts of Kyiv without power and water.
Due to the strikes on critical infrastructure facilities in part of Kyiv, Klitschko said that several of the city’s districts have been left without power and running water.
Russia’s bombing of Ukraine’s infrastructure has been described by the EU as a clear tactic to increase human suffering.
Kyiv has accused Russia of provoking a new humanitarian crisis by forcing even more Ukrainians to flee, scared by the prospects of having to survive with no heating, water, or power during the winter, urging citizens who have already left the country to stay abroad during the cold months.
EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson, who was visiting Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian Energy Minister German Galushchenko, said on Tuesday that the European Union is exploring ways to increase help for Ukraine’s energy sector.
Simson said that following the widespread power cuts caused by the cruel and inhumane Russian attacks, Ukraine needs specific equipment and tools to repair damage to its energy infrastructure, promising additional help from EU institutions, member states, international partners, and private donors.