“Russia seeks to destroy the energy system before the New Year”

Russian attacks on the energy system have caused damage to a power plant in Kharkiv (north-east) as well as gas infrastructure, crucial for heating homes in periods of negative temperatures.

“(Russia’s) main goal is to destroy the integrity of the energy system before the New Year. dividing it along the Dnieper River and also leaving the Odessa, Sumi, Cherníguiv and Kharkiv regions isolated,” he noted on his social networks. Volodymyr Omelchenkoenergy expert at the Razumkov Study Center.

“If there is no electricity at home, we will have a Christmas Eve dinner by candlelight”he said to Efe a man who walked through central Lviv in western Ukraine on Wednesday, speaking loudly to be heard amid the hum of portable generators filling the streets.

Parties with power outages

After Tuesday’s Russian attacks, which used 650 long-range drones and 38 missiles, three nuclear power plants were forced to reduce their electricity production be able to repair the damage caused to the network, which also limited the ability to transfer the energy produced and imported to different regions of the country.

Consequently, Lviv was one of the cities where drastic power cuts were implemented, with residents forced to spend up to 10 hours a day without electricity and with planned outages introduced alternately by districts to distribute available electricity equally among households.

This circumstance did not prevent preparations for one of the biggest festivities in this predominantly Christian country and many Lviv residents were busy preparing traditional treats and other dishes for Christmas Eve dinner, lighting themselves with battery-powered lamps.

Several hundred visitors came to witness the installation of the traditional Ukrainian symbol of Christmas, the “diduj”, on the Place des Anges, next to the Garrison Church, where every day the fallen soldiers say their last goodbyes.

Several choirs, joined by local spectators and those from other towns, sang Christmas carols next to the “diduj”, a four-meter-high decorated sheaf of wheat.

“Today, with the children, we are going to have a Christmas Eve dinner with 12 traditional dishes”count up Efe Lesia Kulchitska, singer of the folk music group “Lemkovina”.

“It will not be as abundant as before, because times are difficult for everyone and we have spent a lot of money to support our army,” he admitted.

Kulchitska is very worried about her husband Herman, who has been fighting as a volunteer since the Russian invasion began almost four years ago, but believes that maintaining Christmas traditions, despite power cuts, the separation of loved ones and the losses suffered by many families, will only strengthen the resolve of Ukrainians.

“A time of hope”

Power cuts and attacks on the railway network have not deterred Nataliaa 54-year-old tourist who came from Vinitsia to Lviv to realize her dream of spending Christmas in this city famous for its large number of churches.

“Christmas is the hope that everything will soon be better.”. That there will be peace and that all men will have health, joy and be with God,” he affirms.

Natalia planned to attend masses in Lviv before returning to her hometown, where power outages were expected to last half a day on Wednesday.

Although the hum of generators accompanied the sound of Christmas carols, the situation in Lviv is better than many areas near the front or the border with Russia.

The effects of emergency repairs will take days or weeks to be felt, which means Many Ukrainians will spend up to 16 hours a day without electricity in the coming periodaccording to energy experts.