As a result of Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine’s military and logistical capabilities, electricity blackouts have spread like an epidemic through Ukraine this winter, endangering the capacity of acting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to rule. Zelenskyy reported on Jan. 16 that Ukraine is now unable to cover over a third of its present needs. Pipes in many apartment buildings have frozen and burst, causing extra problems in accessing clean water. Repairs to these pipes are not expected in the next month.
There apparently is more controversy over what areas are served by overwhelmed repair crews than there is over Russian advances at the front. The report that part of Zelenskyy’s declared state of emergency over electricity, where public notifications over the cutoff or resumption of electricity are no longer to be provided, received some confirmation on Jan. 16, as Zelenskyy refused to identify where repair teams have been sent to resuscitate power. His explanation was that telling people would only inform the Russians where to hit a second time.
What he did announce was: “Repair works take place after every strike. We have a large number of repair teams. But they cannot do everything on their own, this is complex work. Work is going on every day, not only to restore power stations but also the technical capacity for importing electricity, which is also being destroyed by daily Russian attacks.”
