Khmelnytskyi Residents Protest Over 18-Hour Daily Power Cuts: Energy Company's Response

Khmelnytskyi Residents Stage Protest

According to Главком: On January 21, residents of Khmelnytskyi held a protest against prolonged daily power outages lasting 15 to 18 hours. Approximately 150 people gathered outside the city council and the offices of the regional energy company, Obllenergo, to voice their frustration. The demonstration escalated as some participants blocked traffic, creating a tense atmosphere in the city center. Police intervened during the event, detaining one protester.

Energy Company's Explanation

Acting General Director of Khmelnytskyioblenergo, Svyatoslav Kozlenko, stated that the blackouts are mandated by Ukraine's national power grid operator, Ukrenergo, due to a nationwide power deficit and the need to stabilize the energy system. He explained that energy workers are operating around the clock to maintain grid stability and respond to emergencies. Kozlenko expressed sympathy for affected residents, acknowledging that every power restriction causes significant hardship for families, businesses, and social institutions. These outages are part of a broader, severe energy crisis affecting Ukraine following targeted attacks on its infrastructure.

The protest highlighted the main grievances of citizens regarding the electricity supply, while the police detention marked official involvement in the situation. Separately, against the backdrop of this protest, news emerged of the death of a Ukrenergo board member and its former head, Oleksiy Brekht, while he was working to restore an energy facility damaged by a hostile strike.

In summary, the protest in Khmelnytskyi reflects public anger over extensive blackouts, while the energy company's comments point to the complex challenges within the national grid. Authorities' attempts to stabilize the energy situation during wartime underscore the critical need for reliable power for civilians and the economy, as well as the necessity for dialogue between officials and the public. This event may spur more active discussion on solving the region's power supply issues.