Ukraine's energy minister comments on heating supply situation in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast

Constant local accidents are being recorded in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast due to freezing temperatures and worn-out infrastructure. Meanwhile, repair crews are working to restore heating to 143 buildings in the capital.

Source: Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal

Quote from Shmyhal: "Today we held another meeting of the Headquarters for Dealing with the Aftermath of Emergency Situations in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast. Coordination between all services and the speed of restoration are key factors for stabilising the situation in the capital and the region."

Details: As regards heating supply, Shmyhal said that constant local accidents are occurring due to freezing temperatures and worn-out infrastructure. Repair crews are working to restore heating to 143 buildings.

"Our goal is to speed up repairs as much as possible. That is why we are bringing in additional forces to help the city," Shmyhal said.

Additional repair crews from the Ukrainian state-run railway operator Ukrainian Railways (UR) and other regions have joined the effort: 10 crews from UR and another eight from Kyiv Oblast. Shmyhal added that more crews from Rivne and additional railway crews will arrive in the city tomorrow.

"As regards electricity supply and technical solutions: the situation remains difficult and the frost is creating additional strain. A total of 60 crews are currently working to restore power supply, including 12 that arrived from other oblasts," he said.

"We are working on comprehensive solutions. We are delivering an additional 55 generators from the Ministry of Energy's reserve hub," Shmyhal added.

Background:

• Emergency power outages have been introduced in Kyiv Oblast due to the situation in the energy system.
• Oleksii Kuleba, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for Recovery and Minister for Communities and Territories Development, said that emergency repair work is underway in Kyiv to restore heating to 102 residential buildings.
• Earlier, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that around 50 out of 6,000 buildings in Kyiv were still without heating after a Russian attack on critical infrastructure on 9 January.
• Explosions were heard in Kyiv on the evening of 8 January as Russia attacked the city with drones. As of the morning of 9 January, more than 500,000 consumers in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast were left without power after Russian strikes.
• Half of Kyiv's apartment buildings – nearly 6,000 – were without heating due to damage to critical infrastructure that was caused by a large-scale Russian attack.

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