Ukraine urges citizens residing abroad to remain outside of country until spring

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – Ukraine's deputy prime minister advised Ukrainians residing abroad to remain outside of the country until spring due to the growing threat of Russian attacks through the winter months.

"Unfortunately, the networks (power grids, etc.) cannot withstand. ... If you have the opportunity to spend the winter abroad, it is worth doing it," Irina Vereshchuk said during a televised address late Tuesday.

She also claimed that Russia "has turned to the terror of the civilian population," noting that it "loses on the battlefield."

Vereshchuk, also the country’s minister of reintegration of temporarily occupied territories, noted that she would like Ukrainians to rebuild the Kharkiv and Kherson regions and all other cities and villages of Ukraine “together” when spring arrives.

“To return now is to risk yourself and your children, your vulnerable relatives,” Vereshchuk said.

Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been the target of Russian airstrikes since the start of the war in February.

The Ukrainian government on Thursday said it would cut the energy consumption across the country by 20% due to lower output from damaged energy facilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced last week that 30% of Ukraine's power stations had been destroyed since Oct. 10.