Appeal from Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov has formally complained to Ukraine's Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal and the national power operator, Ukrenergo, regarding the city's prolonged electricity blackouts and has demanded a review of the current schedules. The mayor highlighted that power cuts are now lasting between 15 and 19 hours per day, severely disrupting the lives of Kharkiv's residents.
The energy supply crisis intensified following a missile strike on February 3, which left approximately 900 residential buildings without heating. Terekhov stressed that Kharkiv is a frontline city now enduring its fourth consecutive winter under constant attack. He pointed to the unprecedented damage inflicted on the energy infrastructure, which has subjected thousands of households to emergency heating outages.
Demands for a Revised Outage Schedule
Terekhov recalled a prior commitment that homes without heating would face power cuts of no more than four hours. He insisted this promise must be honored. The mayor also noted that municipal authorities, utility workers, and heating and water companies are working around the clock to maintain critical services.
'We are doing everything possible to ensure the city has heat and water. We are assisting the energy workers in every way we can so that Kharkiv remains with power.' - Ihor Terekhov
In his appeal, Ihor Terekhov laid out the following demands:
- A review of the duration and application principles of power outage schedules for Kharkiv;
- The maximum possible reduction in blackout times;
- A public and honest explanation to citizens of the logic behind the decisions being made.
The mayor emphasized the importance of shared responsibility in ensuring a stable power supply for the city's inhabitants.
Kharkiv's situation reflects the broader, nationwide energy crisis caused by the war and targeted attacks on Ukraine's critical infrastructure. The mayor's urgent call for the government to honor its commitments underscores the critical need for immediate action to safeguard civilian welfare during winter. Ensuring reliable access to electricity and heating is a matter of basic safety and survival for the city's population.