Russia's Belgorod drains heating systems amid energy strikes and deep freeze
Heating will resume only when heat and power plant is ready (photo: Getty Images)
Hundreds of buildings in Russia's Belgorod will be left without heating—water has already begun to be drained from the pipes as freezing temperatures approach, and efforts by energy workers have failed to deliver the long-awaited result, according to Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
On February 8, Governor Gladkov reported that the situation in the region remained extremely difficult following strikes on energy infrastructure.
"About 80,000 people in Belgorod are still without heating. Around 3,000 people are without gas, and about 1,000 are without electricity. Electricity will be restored for those 1,000 residents within the next hour and a half," the governor said.
He also said that heating would be restored to homes in Belgorod by noon. However, in the afternoon, he made it clear that residents would remain without heat indefinitely. The reason he cited was damage to energy infrastructure combined with a sharp drop in temperatures.
"In this situation, we make the following decision: we begin to drain heating systems in 455 apartment buildings. This also includes 25 kindergartens, 17 schools, nine outpatient clinics, four universities, and other social facilities and commercial enterprises located on certain streets of Belgorod city," Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
The governor added that heating would only begin to be restored once officials are confident that the combined heat and power plant is ready to resume heat supply. He stressed that if the water is not drained now, the damage would be catastrophic.
Blackouts in Belgorod
On February 7, residents reported that the power substation Belgorod and the combined heat and power plant Luch were hit by missile strikes. Following the attacks, electricity went out in the city of Belgorod and the surrounding Belgorod district.
On February 5, Belgorod was also hit by missiles in the evening, resulting in power, heating, and water outages across the city and the region.
