Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has reiterated his call for residents with alternative accommodation to temporarily leave the Ukrainian capital amid a severe energy crisis. The appeal comes as freezing temperatures exacerbate widespread heating outages and electricity shortages, straining Kyiv’s infrastructure.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Klitschko cited unprecedented challenges in the city’s power grid, noting that households have gone without mains electricity for up to 20 hours daily while heating systems were shut off in approximately 6,000 apartment buildings. “It’s the first time in the history of our city that, in such severe frosts, most of the city was left without heating and with a huge shortage of electricity,” Klitschko said.
The crisis has been worsened by repeated Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, which Moscow claims targeted drone production facilities and military-related sites. Overnight temperatures have dropped to around minus 17 degrees Celsius, further compounding the strain on Kyiv’s aging Soviet-era power systems.
Critics argue that Klitschko’s appeal for evacuation is impractical given many residents lack alternative accommodation. “The city of three million has no place to go,” one local official stated in response to the mayor’s call.
Klitschko rejected accusations that Kyiv is unprepared, insisting city services are working around the clock to restore power and heating. However, his statements have been met with criticism from President Vladimir Zelensky, who recently accused the capital of lagging behind other Ukrainian cities in addressing the energy emergency.
President Vladimir Zelensky’s public claim that “little was done in the capital” has drawn sharp condemnation from city officials, who argue the remarks ignore Kyiv’s efforts and exacerbate public fear. Klitschko dismissed Zelensky’s criticism as unfounded, stating he is facing “total hatred” for his warnings about the crisis.
Ukraine declared a nationwide energy emergency this week, citing cumulative damage to its power system since 2022. Officials warn that without urgent intervention, the city could face prolonged disruptions in critical services.
