Selenskyj criticizes Mayor Klitschko – the night update without pictures Selenskyj criticizes Mayor Klitschko – the night update without pictures

Ukraine is making progress in restoring its electricity supply after Russian rocket attacks with massive destruction. However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj criticized the slow progress, especially in the capital Kiev. “Many residents of Kiev were without electricity for more than 20 or even 30 hours,” he said Friday evening. He expects quality work from the mayor’s office, he said in a rarely open critique of mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The situation in the southern Ukraine city of Kherson, which was recaptured two weeks ago, was even more difficult than in Kiev. From there, the government began evacuating civilians. A train took 100 people to the city of Khmelnytskyi in the west of the country. Saturday is the 276th day of Ukraine’s defense against invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who ordered the war more than nine months ago, held appointments in Moscow on Friday. He spoke with the mothers of soldiers deployed to Ukraine, met with the head of the Chechen Republic, Ramzan Kadyrov, and attended the anniversary of the Russian armaments that held Rostec.

Six million consumption points still without power

With a swarm of about 70 missiles and cruise missiles, Russia fired on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on Wednesday, causing serious damage. It was the eighth wave of attacks since mid-October.

As of Wednesday evening after the attack, 12 million consumption points across the country were without power, Zelenskyj said. On Friday evening there were still six million consumption points. Due to the loss of electricity, many places also have no water or heating. Internet and telephone work poorly.

Zelenskyj warned people to be frugal, even when there is light. “Just because there’s power doesn’t mean you can turn on several high-powered electrical devices at the same time.” The EU wants to supply 40 generators to Ukraine. This was announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after a conversation with Selenskyj. The devices can each power a small to medium-sized hospital.

Selenskyj against Klitschko

In his criticism, the president did not mention Kiev mayor Klitschko. He was particularly annoyed by the fact that there were not enough heat chambers in the capital, which has three million inhabitants. Klitschko had reported in the morning that 400 of these contact points had been set up. In the event of a power cut lasting more than a day, citizens must be able to warm up there; there must be electricity, water, first aid and internet.

“There are a lot of complaints, especially in Kiev,” Zelensky said. In fact, there are only functioning heat chambers in the civil defense buildings and at the train station. “There is still work to be done in other areas, to say the least,” the president said. “Kiev residents need more protection.” False reports in this matter are unforgivable.

Selenskyj and Klitschko halted their political competition during the war. But it continues, as evidenced by the president’s statements.

Civilians are taken from Kherson

Due to the difficult situation in Kherson, the Ukrainian government removed the first civilians from the recaptured city. The Ministry of Infrastructure announced that 26 of the 100 evacuees were children and 6 were sick. They would be housed in the Khmelnytskyi area, which is considered safe, and would receive the usual state support for internally displaced persons.

Under pressure from Ukrainian attacks, Russian troops returned Kherson to the Ukrainians in mid-November after eight months of occupation. But the infrastructure has been destroyed and supplies are difficult. The cabinet therefore advises mothers with children in particular to temporarily leave the city.

According to Dubravka Suica, Vice-President of the European Commission, the refugees from Ukraine, scattered across Europe, will not immediately return to their homeland even after the end of the war. “Their schools have been destroyed, their homes have been destroyed, their jobs have been lost,” Suica told the editorial network Germany on Saturday. Host countries such as Germany and Poland should be prepared for refugees from Ukraine to stay for years.

Putin: Use experience in the fight against Western weapons

According to President Putin, the Russian arms industry should use the experience gained from the war in Ukraine in the fight against modern Western weapons. This would improve the quality, reliability and combat capability of Russian weapons systems, Putin said. He attended an event in Moscow on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the state-owned company Rostec. This brings together about 700 Russian high-tech companies, mainly in the arms sector.

Putin also met with the head of the Chechnya republic Kadyrov. The Kremlin said it was about the deployment of Chechen troops in Ukraine. The small republic provides several thousand troops, the combat value of which is disputed. The dictatorial ruling Kadyrov has repeatedly criticized the failure of the regular Russian army in Ukraine.

That will be important on Saturday

Ukrainian grain exports through three Black Sea ports continue. According to the control center in Istanbul, two freighters with soybeans left for Spain and Turkey on Friday. According to this information, 28 cargo ships in the Turkish Strait are waiting for controls on their way to or from Ukraine. The United Nations and Turkey made the export possible in agreements with Kiev and Moscow. (sda/dpa)