Zelenskyy called on city administrations not to «run away from problems», but to prepare for attacks by the Russian Federation more responsibly.

Zelensky called on city administrations not to "run away from problems" but to prepare for Russian attacks more responsibly. Illustrative photo: Office of the President

Against the backdrop of constant Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on city administrations to prepare more thoroughly for strikes and work more effectively to overcome their consequences.

The head of state announced this on Telegram, emphasising that Russia is deliberately intensifying its shelling during periods of cold weather, targeting energy and heating systems.

«It is important that every city administration understands this goal of the enemy and prepares to fully counter it — to do real work for the sake of the city's residents,» Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Commenting on the statement by Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klychko, who advised Kyiv residents to temporarily leave the city after the massive shelling on 9 January, the president stressed that local authorities should focus on solving problems, not avoiding responsibility.

«We must not run away from problems, but solve them, especially when there are resources for this, as in Kyiv. It is the most financially secure city in Ukraine, and it should have all the necessary backup plans,» he said.

According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, restoration work is currently underway in Kyiv and the surrounding region, as well as in Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Kirovohrad, Cherkasy, and Odesa regions. Last night alone, Russia used more than 200 drones and a significant number of ballistic missiles, with the main strike hitting the capital.

«In fact, repair crews are constantly working in Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kharkiv regions. Maximum forces are being deployed to restore life support,» he said.

On Friday, 9 January, Russian troops again attacked port infrastructure in the Odesa region. The ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk were hit, resulting in damage to two civilian vessels. One crew member, a Syrian citizen, was killed.