Kyiv receives first power generators donated by Poland's capital city - mayor
The first shipment of nearly 60 power generators donated by the authorities and citizens of Warsaw has reached Kyiv, the mayor of Ukraine's capital city, Vitali Klitschko has announced.
In all, Warsaw sent 90 power generators of capacity varying from 10 to 64 kilowatts, Klitschko wrote on the Telegram platform on Friday.
He explained that the units will be installed at critical infrastructure and social facilities as well as residential buildings deprived of heat due to Russia's massive strikes on Ukraine's energy grid.
"Mayor of Warsaw... Rafal Trzaskowski called me first and proposed help, and Poles quickly dispatched the equipment," Klitschko wrote. "Thank you, the Warsaw mayor and our Polish friends for this extremely needed help amid the energy crisis!" he said.
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian energy minister, Denys Shmyhal, reported that 710,000 residents of Kyiv still did not have access to heat following Russian attacks on the country's energy infrastructure the week before.
Ukrainian authorities had appealed for help, which came from various directions, including Poland.
On Thursday, Ukraine received another shipment of power generators supplied by the Polish Government Strategic Reserves Agency (RARS).
Earlier in the week, the first power generators out of the 230 units purchased through the fundraiser dubbed "Warmth from Poland for Kyiv" reached Ukraine. Over PLN 8.9 million (EUR 2.11 mln) has been donated so far, with organisers targeting PLN 10 million (EUR 2.38 mln).
On Monday, the European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaia Kallas, said that energy was the new frontline in Russia's war on Ukraine. The EU has allocated the biggest in history winter aid package to the country, supplying it with 500 power generators and assigning EUR 50 million in energy support. (PAP)
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