Ukrainian refugees should not return until spring to help ease pressure on the energy system after a wave of Russian attacks, the government has said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian air strikes had destroyed more than a third of the country’s energy sector.
“The networks will not cope,” said Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk. “You see what Russia is doing.”
Ms Vereshchuk said that although she would like Ukrainians to return in the spring, it was important to refrain from returning for now because “the situation will only get worse”.
She added, if it is possible, stay abroad for the time being.
Ukraine’s economy has suffered badly since the war began. Mr Zelensky has called on the world for help urgently to cover an expected budget deficit of $38 billion (£33 billion).
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Ukraine would need $3 billion every month to survive the next year – and $5 billion if Moscow’s bombardment intensified.
COMMENTS