Post by : Meena Ariff

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced that a state of emergency will be declared in the country’s energy sector as authorities struggle to recover from widespread damage caused by continued attacks on power and heating infrastructure. The decision is intended to speed up solutions, cut delays, and provide officials with greater flexibility to manage the crisis during the harsh winter period.

Large areas of Ukraine, especially the capital Kyiv, have experienced serious electricity and heating disruptions. Repair crews have been working day and night to restore services, but the scale of the damage and freezing temperatures have made the task extremely difficult. In several regions, night-time temperatures have dropped close to minus 20 degrees Celsius, raising concerns for residents left without stable heating.

The president warned that the combined impact of infrastructure damage and extreme weather has created severe consequences for the population. He said the emergency declaration is necessary because many urgent issues need immediate attention and cannot be handled through normal administrative processes. The move will allow faster decision-making and better coordination across agencies involved in recovery efforts.

In his nightly address, Zelenskiy said that more should have been done to manage the aftermath of the attacks, particularly in Kyiv. He stressed that response efforts in the capital were not matching the intensity seen in other major cities, such as Kharkiv, which has faced similar conditions. He called for quicker action, stronger coordination, and immediate decisions to support residents affected by outages.

Zelenskiy also urged authorities to expand the number of public centres where people can stay warm, charge electronic devices, and receive basic assistance. He suggested that in areas where security conditions allow, night-time curfews could be eased to help residents cope with the situation more effectively.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko rejected the president’s criticism, saying that emergency workers and utility teams have been making continuous efforts under extremely difficult conditions. He stated that heating had already been restored to the vast majority of affected apartment buildings, with only a small number still waiting for repairs. According to him, support centres across the city are operating around the clock.

The mayor added that public criticism risks undermining the work of thousands of professionals who are contributing to the country’s resilience through their tireless efforts. He emphasised that while these workers are not on the battlefield, they are still playing a crucial role in defending the country by keeping essential services running.

To improve coordination, Zelenskiy announced that a permanent headquarters will be established in Kyiv to oversee recovery operations. The centre will be responsible for managing resources, streamlining decisions, and ensuring faster communication between authorities. The work will be supervised by Denys Shmyhal, who has taken on expanded responsibilities related to government coordination and energy management.

The president also said Ukraine is taking steps to significantly increase electricity imports from neighbouring countries. This measure is aimed at stabilising power supplies while damaged infrastructure is repaired. Officials are working to remove technical and logistical barriers to bring in additional electricity during peak winter demand.

Beyond energy concerns, Zelenskiy called on the military to maintain strong defensive positions along the long front line and urged diplomats to continue efforts aimed at securing documents and agreements needed for peace. He said Ukraine is pushing for maximum productivity on all fronts and expects the same level of commitment from its international partners.

As winter continues, the energy emergency underscores the growing pressure on Ukraine’s systems and population. Authorities say restoration work will not stop, with the priority focused on protecting civilians, maintaining essential services, and preventing a deeper humanitarian crisis during one of the coldest times of the year.

#Global News