Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine nine months ago, a silent truce has been in effect in Kiev. As long as Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin’s army is in the country, internal political strife should fade into the background and stay there. But now this consensus has been canceled – by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of all people. The ex-actor publicly reprimanded the Kiev city government headed by mayor and ex-boxer Vitali Klitschko.
This was preceded by another Russian missile strike on the capital’s power supply and elsewhere. This led to massive power outages almost everywhere in Ukraine, which are only slowly being rectified. However, Zelenskyy only chose the capital for public scolding. “Many residents of Kiev were without electricity for more than 20 or even 30 hours,” the head of state complained via video. He expects a better job from City Hall. He didn’t name any. It was also clear who he meant: Klitschko.
“Points of Invincibility” are in a miserable condition
After several days, 600,000 households in the capital were still without power, Selenskyj said at the performance on Friday evening. In the black hoodie, he referenced a project he personally announced, the “Points of Invincibility”. At these points in the city, everyone should be able to heat themselves and provide themselves with electricity and internet. “In fact, only the points set up by civil defense and at the train station are normally equipped,” Zelensky rebuked. The rest are in a sorry state.
Sent “servants of the people” to check the heating points
To reinforce his position, the 44-year-old MPs from his party sent ‘Servants of the People’ to have the heating points checked. Group leader David Arachamija later reported that more than 360 warming points had been checked. In schools and kindergartens, employees brought tea and cakes at their own expense. “But the city government has only passed the crash test with ‘poor’ and has not yet reached any conclusions.” At the same time, Arakhamija praised the management of Ukrainian railways: “They have 200 ‘cars of invincibility’ and a whole fortress”, referring to the central station in Kiev.
Because Klitschko has limited opportunities to defend himself in the media in Ukraine, the former world boxing champion used his contacts abroad. In the face of the Russian invasion, the 51-year-old once again called on his compatriots to unite in the “Bild am Sonntag”. “We must continue to work together to defend the country and protect infrastructure.” Klitschko assured that the city had water and heating again. Now it’s time to restore power.
Almost all of Kiev has power again
The 51-year-old appeared in a white helmet at one of Kiev’s thermal power plants. He shook hands in front of Soviet luminaries and thanked the employees of the Kyivteploenerho company. “More than 3,000 people worked day and night to allow us to say that almost 98 percent of homes in our city have district heating,” Klitschko said. At the same time, however, the mayor admitted that a good quarter of Kiev residents would be without electricity.
On Sunday morning, the redeeming news came from the military administration of Kiev: electricity has been restored almost everywhere in the city, which has a population of three million. Water, heat and the mobile network have also been almost completely restored.
Called for the mayor’s resignation in 2019
It is not the first time that Selenskyj and his government have used heavy artillery against Klitschko. After Selenskyj took office in 2019, the then head of the presidential office, Andriy Bohdan, called for the resignation of the capital’s mayor, who has been in office since 2014. “He has been in control of the situation in the city for the past five year,” Bohdan said at the time.
At that time, it was almost agreed that Selenskyj would at least cool Klitschko. The office of elected mayor should be separated from the office of head of the city government. Klitschko would have become a kind of greeting August. But it turned out differently. According to media reports, Klitschko managed to avoid demotion through contacts with Selenskyj’s confidante Andriy Yermak. Ermak is now in charge of the President’s Office.
Second attempt to knock out Klitschko at Wahl
According to some observers, Zelenskyj now seems to want to make a second attempt to eliminate Klitschko as a potential opponent in the upcoming presidential election in 2024. Only: Until then, it is important to end the war. And second, to survive the war.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
