Kiev has power again, Kherson burns out after fifty bombings | War in Ukraine

First of all Kyiv: the government there reported on Sunday that the electricity grid had been restored almost everywhere. Residents would once again have access to electricity, water and heating. The latter is important in view of the severe winter in the country.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said technicians carried out the repairs “in record time”. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, on the other hand, thought the recovery was slow.

Russia has been harassing Ukraine’s energy supplies for weeks. The Kremlin is trying to keep the Ukrainian population in the cold by turning off the heating. This while the temperature is regularly below zero. The Zelensky government therefore set up thermal power stations in cities as a precaution, where people can go for heat, water and electricity.

Despite this, the Ukrainian government has called on residents of frontline cities to leave. Inland cities are safer, according to Zelensky, because they are hopefully less likely to be targeted by Russian airstrikes.

Residents can volunteer to evacuate. It seems to be catching on in Kherson. The city was recaptured by Ukrainian troops two weeks ago, but was heavily shelled again on Sunday. In response, hundreds of residents have decided to leave.

According to the region’s regional governor, Russia has carried out at least 50 bombing raids. At least one person was killed and two others injured. The situation in the region is said to be “critical” as many power lines and infrastructure have been destroyed. Only 5 percent of the inhabitants would have electricity at home. The hospitals were temporarily without electricity.

Finally, both warring sides conducted another prisoner exchange. Twelve Ukrainian and nine Russian soldiers were released.

Both countries carry out these prisoner of war exchanges on a regular basis. A total of 100 prisoners were involved earlier this week. In early November, no fewer than 214 soldiers were exchanged in a single deal. Over the past two months, this has involved a total of around five hundred soldiers.