Due to Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy grid, Kyiv may face serious interruptions in electricity supply and water and heating networks, warned the mayor of the Ukrainian capital Vitaliy Klitsyko. According to the New York Times, Kyiv authorities would begin planning the evacuation of three million residents in the worst-case scenario – a complete blackout.

The mayor of Kyiv said on Saturday evening that residents of the capital should save energy and think about moving temporarily.

“We are doing everything possible so that it does not get here. But we want to be open: our enemies are doing everything possible to leave the city without heat, without light and without water. In short, so that we all die,” said the mayor of Kyiv, who estimated the number of inhabitants of the city at about 3 million.

Kyiv is trying to stabilize its power grid through controlled power outages, leaving entire areas of the capital in the dark for hours.

Authorities in Kyiv have begun planning to evacuate three million residents in the worst-case scenario of a total blackout, the New York Times reports, revealing that Russian forces are continuing to bombard critical energy infrastructure across the country, including 40% of Ukraine’s electricity. infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

The National Energy Company of Ukraine announced on Saturday that it would extend power cuts in seven regions to try to prevent a complete shutdown of the grid.

“We understand that if Russia continues these attacks, we may lose our entire electrical system,” said Roman Tkachuk, Kyiv’s local government security director, according to the NYT, citing The Guardian.

Local authorities have been told that they will likely receive at least 12 hours’ notice of a blackout, and if it gets to that point, “we will start informing people and asking them to leave,” the official was quoted as saying. saying