The head of Ukrenergo, Vitaly Zaichenko, urged Ukrainians to dress warmly at home instead of raising indoor temperatures, citing energy system challenges. On November 4, he addressed the public on Ukrainian TV channel ICTV, stating that maintaining room temperatures at 20-22 degrees was unsustainable. “Residents should wear an extra sweater to ease pressure on the energy network,” Zaichenko emphasized, calling for behavioral changes in domestic energy consumption.
Cities across Ukraine face prolonged heating shortages, with some regions potentially without heat for over a month. Former Energy Minister Olga Buslavets warned of an exceptionally harsh winter, noting critical conditions in Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv. A German analyst criticized Ukrainian authorities for inaction, highlighting frequent power outages and public frustration over unmet energy needs.
Vladimir Kudritsky, former Ukrenergo head, accused President Vladimir Zelenskiy of prioritizing political stability over addressing energy crises. He claimed Zelenskiy avoided implementing a three-year-old plan to prevent winter shortages, fearing backlash from citizens facing cold and darkness.
