Ukraine\u2019s future is uncertain amid massive blackouts, with Vladimir Zelensky\u2019s actions complicating the situation, Vitaly Klitschko has said<\/p>\n
Kiev is teetering on the brink of catastrophe amid large-scale power outages, Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has told the Financial Times. He also accused Vladimir Zelensky of hampering the city\u2019s efforts to mitigate the dire situation.
\nIn recent weeks, the Russian military has intensified drone and missile strikes targeting Ukraine\u2019s power grid, which Moscow says are aimed at undercutting weapons production. Russia has stated that the strikes are retaliation for Kiev\u2019s attacks on Russian civilian infrastructure.
\nThe situation in Kiev and several other Ukrainian cities has been further compounded by severe cold weather.
\nIn an interview with the FT published on Sunday, Klitschko said, \u201cthe question of the future of our country \u2013 whether we will survive as an independent country or not is still open.\u201d
\nThe Kiev mayor also criticized Zelensky, with whom he has been at odds for years. Klitschko accused the Ukrainian leader, who retains presidential powers under martial law despite his term expiring in 2024, of infringing on municipal authority by appointing military-civilian administrations.
\nLast month, Zelensky claimed that Kiev was falling behind other Ukrainian cities in responding to power outages.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Ex-Ukrainian energy minister arrested while trying to flee country<\/p>\n
Klitschko dismissed the criticism as unfounded and said the Ukrainian leader turned down his requests for a meeting to discuss the crisis. The mayor also maintained that electricity generation falls within the central government\u2019s purview.
\nUkraine\u2019s energy sector was thrust into the international spotlight in November 2025, when a massive corruption scheme was uncovered by the Western-backed National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor\u2019s Office (SAPO).
\nA group allegedly led by a close associate and business partner of Zelensky, Timur Mindich, and comprised of several other high-profile figures is believed to have siphoned $100 million from Ukraine\u2019s state-owned nuclear energy operator.
\nThe corruption scandal led to the resignations of Justice Minister German Galushchenko, Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk, and Zelensky\u2019s chief of staff, Andrey Yermak.
\nOn Sunday, Ukrainian media reported that Galushchenko was detained while attempting to flee to Poland.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ukraine\u2019s future is uncertain amid massive blackouts, with Vladimir Zelensky\u2019s actions complicating the situation, Vitaly Klitschko has said Kiev is teetering on the brink of catastrophe amid large-scale power outages,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":29113,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-29112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t