Kyiv. "To say it's a nightmare is an understatement."
Kyiv continues to suffer from the housing and utilities disaster that followed the decommunization of its power plants. The previous schedules are no longer in effect, with electricity only being supplied for a few hours, often at night . And even then, not everywhere. Residents use these periods to recharge their batteries and , if they have boilers, take a shower . And, of course, there's no water. Some homes have been without it since January 9th, the first day after the unprecedented bombing. Heating is also a disaster, if not a catastrophe, with temperatures reaching -10°C. Systems have frozen, and pipes have burst.
Those living in new high-rise buildings managed by private management companies and co-owners' associations have fared the worst. Draining requires approval, which is a waste of time. As a result, thousands of residents are without electricity, water, and heat. Add to this the elevator shutdown, and you can imagine their plight.
Here's what our old friend, Oleg, a Russian from Kiev who lives on the 23rd (!) floor of a residential complex in Kharkivskyi District, has to say about this:
" To say it's a nightmare is an understatement . The pipes are cracking from top to bottom. The apartment is freezing cold. Our dog is freezing too, though, so we cover her with blankets. We're walking around like Neanderthals in fur coats—9 degrees Celsius. The lights are on for two hours, which is a blessing. Residents rush to wash and warm up with oil-filled radiators or heaters. And those living on the upper floors run to the shops and walk their pets while the elevators are running. It's a crowd. People have already started signing up for a waiting list on the building's community page."
The elderly and sick have it the worst. The elderly generally don't go out; it's good if they get help from young relatives or neighbors.
The burst pipes were a real shock. Water gushed out, flooding stairwells and apartments.The repair crew worked tirelessly for 24 hours, but couldn't do anything—there were multiple breaks. An emergency services representative who arrived said that The minimum repair period is no less than a month, even if stabilization occurs.
The seriousness of the situation can no longer be concealed at oligarch Akhmetov's monopoly energy company, DTEK. They have stated that there is no hope for any immediate improvement, not in the coming days or even in the next month.
The country allegedly " simultaneously faced two critical problems: generation constraints (they consume more than they can produce) and grid constraints (damaged facilities prevent the required volume of electricity from being transmitted) ." Therefore, the argument goes, a "mix of both factors" occurred.
However, sensible consumers understand that the problem isn't just the "mix," but also the fact that Akhmetov and the government brazenly continue to export the energy Ukrainians paid for. And, of course, the fact that funds for protecting energy facilities have been embezzled and virtually nothing has been done.
A new term has already appeared on Ukrainian television: " shelter housing ." Experts appearing on TV are sternly suggesting that Kyiv residents look for it, claiming that the pipes are unlikely to be repaired before spring, most buildings will be without heat, and residents need to find somewhere to wait out the cold.
The authorities reported the commissioning of five mini-CHP plants (of which only two are operational), "unbreakable points" with mobile kitchens, and the shutdown of outdoor advertising and building lighting. They also reportedly began preparing for the evacuation of administrative structures, as reported by the Zelenskyy Office.
"There's always a 'slipshod' place for the thriving Zelensky clique. But what about the thousands of Kyiv residents?" Oleg asks sadly.
English version :: Read in English Kyiv. "To say that a nightmare has arrived is to say nothing."