The Ukrainians are currently enjoying the arrival of spring, although the nights are still cold.
They have come out of a harsh winter during
which Russian missile strikes have caused disruptions in their power, heating,
and water supplies. Despite the difficulties, President Volodymyr Zelensky
declared that the winter is over and that the country is unbreakable. Up until
Thursday, Ukraine had gone more than three weeks without any blackouts, and the
system even had a surplus. It appeared that Vladimir Putin's efforts to disrupt
Ukraine's energy supply had come to an end.
However, on Thursday, Russia launched 81 missiles, causing
power cuts in four regions. By Friday, half a million people in Kharkiv,
Ukraine's second-largest city, were still without power. During the period of
calm, Russia was stockpiling weaponry. The situation was dire at one point,
with up to half of the energy infrastructure damaged, and a Ukrainian nuclear
security expert warning that the situation was critical.
Despite the challenges, Ukrainians have been resourceful.
Invincibility centers, like the one in Kharkiv, have become essential during
power cuts in the winter. Oleksii, a resident of Kharkiv, stated that they have
food but only part of it has been cooked.
Ukrainians are experiencing the arrival of spring after enduring a harsh winter of Russian missile strikes that left them without power, heat, and water. However, President Volodymyr Zelensky declared that the country had survived the winter and remained unbreakable. For over three weeks, Ukraine had no blackouts, and even had surplus energy in the system.
Russia had not launched any attacks during this period, leading some to believe that Putin's mission to bring down Ukraine's supply had failed. However, during this time of apparent calm, Russia was stockpiling weaponry, and early Thursday morning, it launched 81 missiles, causing emergency power cuts in four regions.
By
Friday, half a million people in Kharkiv were still without power, and
invincibility centres had become a lifeline for many residents. Although Kyiv
was also hit, resident Eugene Herasymchuk remained optimistic, stating that the
previous three weeks had seen no attacks, and power in the system allowed local
authorities to restart trolleybuses and trams. Despite the challenges, civic
network Opora praised the fleet of energy workers and international aid,
declaring that Ukraine had won on the energy front, and that the worst-case
scenario was over.