Kyiv gradually resuming water, heat and electricity supply - Klitschko

After a large-scale accident in Ukraine's power grid, the capital's utilities are gradually restoring water, heat and electricity to Kyiv residents. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced this on the air of the Kyiv24 TV channel after a meeting of the operational headquarters.

"We have just finished a meeting of the headquarters, which we urgently held due to this accident in the Ukrainian power system. Kyiv, like other cities in Ukraine, was left without electricity. As a result, electric transport and the subway were shut down. The situation with electricity supply is gradually stabilizing. We are all working now, restoration is underway. The first priority is to supply electricity to critical infrastructure facilities. We are now increasing the pressure in the water supply system. It will take a little more time to restore the system," said Vitali Klitschko.

He noted that the problems with water supply arose due to the lack of electricity.

"The fact is that due to the lack of electricity, the pressure decreased, the water supply stopped - the work of our pumps, those that supply water pressure. And now we are gradually restoring both water and heat supply. That is, we are starting to return to normal," the Mayor of Kyiv said.

He emphasized that all services of the capital are working around the clock in extreme conditions.

"Unfortunately, we are working in extreme conditions. Given that there are problems at substations and in switchboards, there are not enough workers. We are also launching district heating to several hundred houses that are still without heat. We are working around the clock despite these challenges. Please be understanding of the people who are doing everything possible and impossible to provide basic services to Kyiv residents," Vitali Klitschko emphasized.

In addition, the Mayor of the capital noted that Kyiv's main hospitals worked without interruption, as they have autonomous water, heat and electricity supply systems.

"The hospitals did not stop their activities for a minute. All our base hospitals have an autonomous water, heat and electricity supply system. That is, the hospitals are working without failures," Vitali Klitschko said.

On January 31, the power went out across the country, causing blackouts and interruptions in heating and water supply. The reason for the large-scale failure was a technological failure. According to Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal, two power lines were simultaneously disconnected: a 400 kV line between the power systems of Romania and Moldova, and a 750 kV line between the western and central parts of Ukraine. This triggered a cascading blackout in the grid and activation of automatic protection systems at substations. As a result of the accident, nuclear power units had to be unloaded.