Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko traded fresh accusations on Friday over the capital's unreadiness for intensified Russian strikes, which have left millions without electricity, water and heating in near-freezing temperatures.
As Russia targets energy infrastructure and key transport hubs across Ukraine and Kyiv faces its most severe power crisis since the 2022 invasion. Centralised heating remains disrupted also metro services face frequent halts and traffic has stalled following strikes on bridges over the Dnipro River.
Zelenskiy publicly blamed the city administration for failing to adequately prepare for the winter heating season alongside defending against Russian drone and missile attacks.
In response the Mayor Klitschko accused the central government of political manipulation and stalling the approval of Kyiv’s municipal resilience plan also arguing that national leadership was actively undermining the capital's administration. The public dispute highlights long-standing political friction between the presidency and the municipal government.
Separately, the death toll from a Russian attack on an aid distribution point in Komyshuvakha, Zaporizhzhia region rose to 53 on Friday. Acting Regional Governor Mykhailo Semikin confirmed that emergency teams are continuing rescue operations under the threat of repeat strikes also marking it as one of the deadliest single attacks on civilians this year.
