'Even isolated Shahed strikes cause power and water outages' — Zelensky criticizes Kyiv's preparedness for Russian attacks

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed disappointment in Kyiv's readiness for Russian attacks on October 13, stating that the capital city lags behind other Ukrainian regions in implementing resilience plans to maintain essential services during the heating season. Zelensky observed this discrepancy during a staff meeting with the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on October 12, noting that even isolated attacks by Shaheds had caused power and water outages across significant portions of Kyiv.

In response, Zelensky initiated discussions on immediate security and administrative actions to enhance Kyiv's resilience plan, which may involve bolstering energy facility security, collaborating with the government and military, and adjusting Kyiv's governance practices. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko dismissed claims that the city had neglected preparations for the heating season, asserting that such accusations, spread by pro-government media outlets, were baseless.

Klitschko also alleged that the central authorities were attempting to undermine local governance by removing community leaders under misleading pretexts. He emphasized his commitment to justifying the trust of Kyiv residents and ensuring the city's operational continuity amidst persistent enemy assaults. Russian airstrikes have repeatedly impacted Kyiv's fundamental services in recent days.

On October 8, Russian strikes caused widespread power and water disruptions, halting metro operations. A similar occurrence transpired on October 11 as Russia persisted in targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Ukraine initiated nationwide resilience plans in March to safeguard critical infrastructure, rectify damaged facilities, and set up emergency power and heating sources before winter.