President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky. Archival photoMOSCOW, Oct 23Vladimir Zelensky called forced blackouts in Ukraine and urged city mayors to monitor electricity consumption, as now is «not the time for bright storefronts and signs.»»In many cities and districts our energy companies have to apply stabilization shutdown schedules to ensure that all our people have access to energy – in conditions where its production is impossible in sufficient volume,» Zelensky said in his video message. He called on the people of Ukraine to «consume very consciously electricity» and limit the use of energy-intensive technology. «I would like to separately appeal to community leaders and mayors of our cities: please make sure that energy is not wasted. Now is definitely not the time for bright shop windows and signs. We need a very careful attitude to energy consumption in public space» , — Zelensky added. Almost 1.3 million subscribers have not been de-energized, Zelensky's office saidThe Russian Armed Forces began striking Ukrainian infrastructure on October 10, two days after the terrorist attack on the Crimean bridge, which, according to the Russian authorities, is behind the Ukrainian special services. As President Vladimir Putin stated, the explosion on the bridge, Kyiv has put itself on a par with the most odious terrorist groups, and «it is simply impossible to leave such crimes unanswered.» Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk, causing large-scale power outages.
