Anti-Russian protesters block fix of Crimean power lines
Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak accused Kyiv of deliberately refusing to help rebuild electricity pylons which were blown up by unidentified, pro-Ukrainian attackers over the weekend, causing the interruption of gas supplies to Russia-annexed Crimea.
Crimean Tatar activists and members of Ukrainian volunteer battalions that have fought in the east have manned roadblocks into Crimea since September, to put pressure on Russian Federation and its puppet rulers in the region.
Ukraine’s supply of prepaid Russian gas is close to an end and Moscow-based Gazprom PJSC may halt fuel deliveries “today or tomorrow” unless it receives more money, Novak said.
In retaliation for Kyiv’s unwillingness to step into action, Novak threatened to also halt coal deliveries to Ukraine.
On November 20, supplies of electric power to the Crimea from Ukraine fell by 50 percent after saboteurs blew up power lines to the peninsula. “It’s a demonstration that we also have trump cards”.
“This is not about the pylons that were destroyed, it is about our position”, Mr Avakov said, calling for a move that would effectively endorse an unofficial blockade of the Russian-controlled region.
The leader of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, urged the residents of the peninsula “to prepare for the worst”, saying the power blackout could well last until late December. Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to overcome frayed ties with the USA and European countries, which imposed sanctions against Russia, to form an alliance to fight Islamic State.
Ukraine’s UNIAN news agency first reported Friday that two of four main power lines to Crimea had been damaged after an explosion. “The other pylons are under our control and access is closed”.
Protesters – including Crimean Tatars – are preventing repairs to the pylons.
“If they (the Ukrainian side) resume the supplies, we will be grateful for that”.
More than 1.6 million people remain without power, the BBC said, while water supplies to high buildings have been suspended and cable and mobile internet is down. Write to us in the Comments Section or comment on our Facebook page. “Anyone who harms our citizens will be punished”.
Earlier in the day, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has sent a letter to Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, offering to temporarily terminate automobile and railroad freight transport links with Crimea due to the “escalation of confrontation” between Crimean public activists and the authorities of the peninsula.