Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said he is being groundlessly accused of derailing the heating season, which has not yet begun. He believes these allegations are being amplified by outlets “linked to the authorities”.
In a video published on 13 October, Klitschko said local self-government is being targeted for destruction, and that 300 city leaders have already been removed for various reasons. They have been replaced by heads of military administrations.
“In other words, there is an attempt to push Klitschko aside and appoint someone from above. People made their choice — I believe I will fulfil my obligations,” he said.
The mayor said he will try to live up to the community’s trust, and whether he succeeds will be shown by the next elections.
He added that the mayor is not responsible for air defence, that Kyiv remains a key target for the enemy, and that Russia continues to destroy the energy sector.
Context
Since 30 September, Russia has resumed large-scale attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, including in the capital region. This has led to widespread power cuts and voltage fluctuations. The metro has stopped several times in the city, surface electric transport has not been running, and the water supply has been disrupted.
The mayor explained that Kyiv lost all of its own generation during previous attacks, and is therefore now fully dependent on the country’s power system.
At the same time, the city authorities are being criticised for insufficient preparation for new strikes and for certain decisions, including restoring CHP plants rather than building a more extensive network.
This weekend, activists announced a rally calling on Klitschko to resign. Tomorrow, 14 October, Klitschko has been summoned to report to MPs.