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Power Is Restored Across Crimean Peninsula Power Is Restored Across Crimean Peninsula
(about 5 hours later)
SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — Electricity was restored on Tuesday to cities across the disputed Crimean Peninsula following power failures a day earlier, and both Russian and regional officials said they were taking steps to limit Crimea’s vulnerability to any cutoff in services by the Ukrainian government.SIMFEROPOL, Crimea — Electricity was restored on Tuesday to cities across the disputed Crimean Peninsula following power failures a day earlier, and both Russian and regional officials said they were taking steps to limit Crimea’s vulnerability to any cutoff in services by the Ukrainian government.
On Monday, a power failure plunged much of the Crimean capital, Simferopol, into darkness, the second partial blackout in two days, as the government in Kiev appeared to retaliate against Russia’s annexation of the peninsula by sharply cutting electricity supplied from the mainland. The Ukrainian government said the blackouts were caused by repairs to power lines.On Monday, a power failure plunged much of the Crimean capital, Simferopol, into darkness, the second partial blackout in two days, as the government in Kiev appeared to retaliate against Russia’s annexation of the peninsula by sharply cutting electricity supplied from the mainland. The Ukrainian government said the blackouts were caused by repairs to power lines.
In addition to Simferopol, a city of more than 330,000 people, blackouts were reported on Monday night in Yevpatoriya, on Crimea’s western coast, and in Kerch, the port city closest to Russia on the eastern shore, as well as in other cities and towns. In most cases, full power was restored within several hours.In addition to Simferopol, a city of more than 330,000 people, blackouts were reported on Monday night in Yevpatoriya, on Crimea’s western coast, and in Kerch, the port city closest to Russia on the eastern shore, as well as in other cities and towns. In most cases, full power was restored within several hours.
In Simferopol, homes and businesses went dark across a large swath of the city about 7 p.m. on Monday, underscoring the vulnerability of the geographically isolated peninsula, which is dependent on mainland Ukraine for many vital services, including electricity and much of its water supply.In Simferopol, homes and businesses went dark across a large swath of the city about 7 p.m. on Monday, underscoring the vulnerability of the geographically isolated peninsula, which is dependent on mainland Ukraine for many vital services, including electricity and much of its water supply.
Officials here and in Moscow had anticipated that the Ukrainian government would cut power. In recent days, regional officials said they had acquired 900 generators to provide electricity to vital buildings, including hospitals. It was not immediately clear if those generators were in use.Officials here and in Moscow had anticipated that the Ukrainian government would cut power. In recent days, regional officials said they had acquired 900 generators to provide electricity to vital buildings, including hospitals. It was not immediately clear if those generators were in use.
Officials also said they were bringing in nine larger generators that had been used in the Russian city of Sochi during the recent Winter Olympics.Officials also said they were bringing in nine larger generators that had been used in the Russian city of Sochi during the recent Winter Olympics.
Also Tuesday, the Ukrainian defense minister, Igor Tenyukh, resigned after coming under criticism over his handling of troop withdrawals during the Crimean annexation. Parliament appointed Col. Gen. Mikhail Koval as his replacement.
At a news conference in The Hague on Monday, the Ukrainian foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsia, repeated an earlier pledge that the government in Kiev would not cut off vital services to Crimea. “We will not shut the water and electricity because Crimea is part of Ukraine and we care about our citizens,” said Mr. Deshchytsia, according to Voice of America and Itar-Tass, the Russian state-owned news service.At a news conference in The Hague on Monday, the Ukrainian foreign minister, Andriy Deshchytsia, repeated an earlier pledge that the government in Kiev would not cut off vital services to Crimea. “We will not shut the water and electricity because Crimea is part of Ukraine and we care about our citizens,” said Mr. Deshchytsia, according to Voice of America and Itar-Tass, the Russian state-owned news service.
On Monday, the state-run Ukrainian national energy company, Ukrenergo, issued a statement attributing the blackouts in Crimea to emergency repairs to two major transmission lines.On Monday, the state-run Ukrainian national energy company, Ukrenergo, issued a statement attributing the blackouts in Crimea to emergency repairs to two major transmission lines.
Another company, DTEK Krymenergo, which delivers most of the electricity used in Crimea, said the transmission lines had been disconnected for repairs, forcing it to sharply reduce the supply of energy.Another company, DTEK Krymenergo, which delivers most of the electricity used in Crimea, said the transmission lines had been disconnected for repairs, forcing it to sharply reduce the supply of energy.
After an initial blackout in Simferopol on Sunday evening, regional officials immediately blamed the government in Kiev.After an initial blackout in Simferopol on Sunday evening, regional officials immediately blamed the government in Kiev.
In Moscow, Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev said Crimea’s reliance on the mainland was a major risk and also seemed to blame Kiev for the blackouts. At a government meeting on Monday, Mr. Medvedev said that in the short term the issue should be settled “at international talks,” but he also urged Russian ministries to begin work in Crimea as soon as possible.In Moscow, Prime Minister Dmitri A. Medvedev said Crimea’s reliance on the mainland was a major risk and also seemed to blame Kiev for the blackouts. At a government meeting on Monday, Mr. Medvedev said that in the short term the issue should be settled “at international talks,” but he also urged Russian ministries to begin work in Crimea as soon as possible.
“Another infrastructure problem is Crimea’s dependence on Ukrainian power and water supplies,” said Mr. Medvedev, according to an official transcript. “This dependence periodically makes itself felt, including last night.”“Another infrastructure problem is Crimea’s dependence on Ukrainian power and water supplies,” said Mr. Medvedev, according to an official transcript. “This dependence periodically makes itself felt, including last night.”
President Vladimir V. Putin has ordered officials to begin work quickly on a bridge to connect mainland Russia and the Crimean port of Kerch, but that project will take years and cost $3 billion to $5 billion.President Vladimir V. Putin has ordered officials to begin work quickly on a bridge to connect mainland Russia and the Crimean port of Kerch, but that project will take years and cost $3 billion to $5 billion.
The blackouts on Monday came as the acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, formally ordered the withdrawal of the remaining Ukrainian forces in Crimea, ending an increasingly futile effort by some troops to hold on to their bases after Russia’s annexation of the territory.The blackouts on Monday came as the acting president of Ukraine, Oleksandr V. Turchynov, formally ordered the withdrawal of the remaining Ukrainian forces in Crimea, ending an increasingly futile effort by some troops to hold on to their bases after Russia’s annexation of the territory.
The Ukrainian military has been virtually powerless in the face of the incursion late last month by Russian special forces and other units. In recent days, there has been a steady capitulation as Russian units have seized base after base.The Ukrainian military has been virtually powerless in the face of the incursion late last month by Russian special forces and other units. In recent days, there has been a steady capitulation as Russian units have seized base after base.
Some Ukrainian commanders who have been detained were still unaccounted for on Monday, including Col. Yuli Mamchur, a leader of a base at Belbek, near Sevastopol International Airport.Some Ukrainian commanders who have been detained were still unaccounted for on Monday, including Col. Yuli Mamchur, a leader of a base at Belbek, near Sevastopol International Airport.