Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said it is currently impossible to protect every petrol station, calling it primarily a matter of air defence.
He told journalists this on the sidelines of the annual Yalta European Strategy (YES) conference.
“The issue of protecting petrol stations is complex. We cannot yet build protection for every petrol station. I am convinced that the issue of protection is an issue of air defence,” the mayor said.
According to Klitschko, in discussions with the military he learned that there is currently a shortage of missile interception systems used against drones and cruise missiles. The mayor noted that representatives of the Armed Forces would be able to provide more details.
Klitschko also spoke about Kyiv’s preparations for possible problems with electricity supply and fuel this winter.
“We have built up fuel reserves for the winter and for an emergency situation, when a fuel problem could theoretically arise,” the mayor said.
According to Klitschko, the city is working through various scenarios, including adverse ones, and must be ready for each of them. Kyiv’s municipal services, he said, have created a reserve that will make it possible to keep generators running in the event of a power outage and electricity shortages, as well as to ensure the uninterrupted operation of the municipal services themselves. This, the mayor stressed, is the city’s area of responsibility, and the necessary reserves have already been put in place.
- Since 10 September Russia has been attacking Kyiv petrol stations with jet-powered drones. These are deliberate strikes specifically on filling stations. On the morning of 11 September, the enemy attacked two filling stations on the right and left banks of the capital. All three attacked petrol stations are UKRNAFTA.