Russian strikes have been targeting, for more than a month, the energy infrastructure of Ukraine, deprived of electricity, sometimes water and heating, millions of Ukrainians.
by Sandra Favier
At the end of April, Hanna, Natalya and Daryna told us how the war had shaken their daily life in Ukraine. While, for more than a month, almost all of the country has lived to the rhythm of electric power and heating cuts, or even water in certain regions, consequences of the Russian strikes against the country’s energy infrastructure, MO12345lemonde took of their news.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated, in mid-November, that “this winter [would] be a question of survival” in Ukraine, while 40 % of the infrastructure has been damaged in recent weeks. In around fifteen regions, ad hoc electricity cuts are organized to spare the system. Although the gas, the main source of heating, does not lack, the Ukrainian systems often depend on a power supply, and the heating is also affected. From kyiv, Kherson, Kamianets-Podilsky and Lviv, five women tell us how they live without electricity for several hours a day and their concerns for the rest of winter.
“I find my sons to do their Homework in the middle of the night “, Hanna Rzhevska, in Kamianets-Podilsky 2>
Hanna Rzhevska, 47, a teacher in a private school, is from Louhansk. She fled the city in 2014 and settled in Mykolaïv, which she had to leave in turn in April. It is from her apartment in Kamianets-Podilsky that Hanna testifies by videoconferencing, a turtleneck sweater mounted to the chin and a cap on the ears.
“We keep ready in the event of cuts, with candles and matches everywhere; a friend in Sweden finds this romantic. When electricity is cut while I am at the center where I help the manufacture of nets Camouflage for military vehicles, we work with torch lamps. Overall, we have adapted our daily life.
It is more complicated for the lessons [of the last year of primary] that I give online: today, I canceled two in three. For my sons [Aleksey, 24, and Anton, 17 years old], who continue their distance studies, it’s not simple either. When we have no current in the evening, they go to bed early and I find them awake in the middle of the night, around 2 am or 3 am, to do their homework when the electricity returned.
In anticipation of winter, I made a few stocks of bottled water, blankets and warm clothes, rechargeable batteries and food. I keep foods that do not need to be cooked or heated in case we no longer have gas. I hope we will survive, but we will not leave. It is Ukraine our house. “
You have 67.52% of this article to read. The continuation is reserved for subscribers.