Silinsky: Nine million people in Ukraine are still without electricity

Despite repair work on the power grid, which was badly damaged by the Russian attacks, about nine million people in Ukraine are still without electricity. “But the number and duration of power outages is constantly decreasing,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily video address yesterday. But there are still many shortcomings in the power supply.

Important decisions were taken during his consultations with government representatives on the situation in the energy and infrastructure sectors. “We are preparing for next year, not just for the winter months,” Zelensky said. “There are steps that must be taken, and the state will certainly take them,” he added. The president did not give any details.

Get ready for new attacks

At the same time, Zelensky warned of the possibility of new Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid. “The air defenses are preparing, the state is preparing, and everyone must prepare,” he said.

Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Galushenko also fears a major Russian missile and cruise missile attack on New Year’s Eve. “The Russians have not abandoned attacks against our energy grid,” he said on Ukrainian television today. The power grid is being quickly repaired in order to uninterruptedly celebrate the New Year for Ukrainians. However, the prerequisite is the absence of new Russian attacks.

The Russian military has repeatedly attacked Ukraine’s power grid with cruise missiles, missiles and drones for weeks. The aim is to stress the population in the middle of winter with the electricity and water cut off.