President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Kyiv’s city authorities over their failure to implement resilience measures as Russian strikes caused significant damage to Ukraine’s power grid and electricity transmission infrastructure.
In a Telegram post on Friday following a conference call with military and government officials, Zelensky said restoration work was proceeding around the clock, with repair crews, energy workers and regional authorities working to restore the energy system.
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He added that Ukraine had updated its requirements for energy equipment and air-defense packages.
The Foreign Ministry and the presidential office were preparing communications with international partners, and Zelensky said he would speak with world leaders.
Zelensky also issued a sharp warning over delays in implementing regional resilience plans, saying that any delay was “absolutely unacceptable.”
He said the Infrastructure Ministry and regional administrations bore personal responsibility for carrying out the work.
Kyiv was singled out for criticism, with Zelensky saying the city authorities had failed to take the necessary steps “in almost all respects.”
Zelensky also addressed the situation in Pryluky, in the Chernihiv region. He instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive package of solutions by the end of the week, taking into account issues discussed with local residents.
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The president did not specify the extent of the damage to the power grid, the number of people affected by electricity disruptions or the precise measures he expected Kyiv authorities to complete.
Klitschko defends Kyiv’s preparations
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said the capital is in “survival” mode ahead of winter as intensified Russian strikes hit infrastructure, bridges and the energy grid, causing power cuts and disrupting water supplies.
In an interview with AFP, he said the city was preparing for the cold months by building backup heating systems and stockpiling fuel, food and drinking water, but warned that preparations alone might not be enough.
“No matter how well we prepare, if air defense does not work, we could end up in a bad scenario,” he said.
Klitschko defended Kyiv’s preparations amid repeated criticism from Zelensky’s government, arguing that municipal authorities faced a “very difficult” task with “limited time, limited funding, a limited number of workers.”
“Finding scapegoats won’t make people warmer,” he said.
The mayor warned that Russian attacks on bridges across the Dnipro River were disrupting traffic and threatening the city’s ability to function. Kyiv was developing alternative pontoon crossings to ease congestion, he said, while damage to water infrastructure could trigger a “quite large-scale” crisis.
Klitschko urged residents who have friends or relatives outside the capital to consider temporarily relocating, while insisting he was not calling for a full evacuation.
Zelensky reports progress near Dobropillia
The conference call also covered the battlefield situation, particularly in the Donetsk region, including the areas around Kostiantynivka, Dobropillia, Sloviansk and Kramatorsk.
According to Zelensky, Ukrainian forces had made progress in eliminating Russian “infiltrations” in the Dobropillia area. He said officials had also identified measures to be implemented over the coming weeks.
Zelensky thanked Ukrainian units carrying out their assigned tasks but did not provide further operational details or quantify the reported gains.
Power cuts disrupt essential services
The latest warnings follow water supply disruptions on Kyiv’s right bank on Thursday, when Russian attacks on the energy grid interrupted electricity supplies to water facilities and reduced pressure in the network. City authorities reported problems in parts of four districts, while emergency power cuts had already disrupted scheduled outages earlier in the week.
International partners have also announced additional winter assistance. The UK pledged £54 million in support, approximately $71 million, including funding for emergency grid repairs, backup generators and solar power. The package also covers heating and water systems, alongside direct cash assistance.