ISTANBUL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that a permanent operational headquarters has been established in Kyiv after he announced a state of emergency in the energy sector the previous day.
In a statement on US social media company X following a “special energy coordination call,” Zelenskyy said the situation in the capital is “particularly difficult,” criticizing city authorities when he said that “what was not done at the city level will now be corrected at the Government level.”
“A permanent operational headquarters has already been established for the capital, and its work will be overseen by the Government. I expect full cooperation and coordination from the local authorities,” Zelenskyy said.
Zelenskyy said decisions will be taken regarding curfews today, and the Interior Ministry will ensure inspections and the expansion of the network of assistance and heating points in cities, with Kyiv requiring a “separate effort.”
He also said Ukraine’s government must immediately ensure necessary decisions regarding the simplification and expansion of electricity imports.
Zelenskyy went on to say that he will hold a separate meeting with the defense minister and the commander of Ukraine’s Air Force on the “protection of energy facilities and additional requests to partners for air defense support.”
The Ukrainian president’s remarks come one day after he announced he will declare a state of emergency in the energy sector, with a focus on the capital, due to extreme weather conditions and Russian strikes last week that left much of Kyiv without power.
An overnight Russian strike on Kyiv on Friday killed at least four people and injured 25, while causing disruptions to the energy and water supply due to damage to critical infrastructure.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said half of the capital's apartment buildings, nearly 6,000, lost access to heating, as he appealed to residents to temporarily leave the city.
Russia said the overnight attack was carried out in response to an attempted drone strike by Ukraine on President Vladimir Putin’s residence in the Novgorod region late last year. Kyiv immediately denied the claims, arguing the accusations seek to undermine diplomatic efforts to end the war.
On Wednesday, Zelenskyy said in his evening address that authorities in Kyiv have done “far too little” to prepare for potential difficulties following Russian attacks, especially compared to those in Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which has also been targeted by airstrikes.
Klitschko rejected Zelenskyy’s criticisms, saying that “only about 400” buildings in the capital, out of the initial 6,000 that lost access, remain without heating and that workers are on duty 24 hours to assist residents.
“Such statements, first and foremost, devalue the selfless work of thousands of professionals. Although they don't have weapons in their hands, with their tireless efforts, they too are fighting for their country,” said Klitschko.
The mayor said Thursday that 300 buildings in Kyiv remain without access to heating, while more than 1,200 heating points are operating in the capital.
Separately Thursday, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said a major energy infrastructure facility in the city was destroyed.
Zelenskyy said more than 400,000 people in Kharkiv were left without electricity and heat due to Thursday's attack.