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Odesa Residents Flock to Library, Cafes in Search of Power Amid Widespread Blackouts

Amid severe power outages, residents in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa sort out generator-powered cafes and public places for their electricity needs on Friday, November 25.

Widespread Russian missile strikes earlier in the week heavily damaged energy infrastructure across Ukraine, including in the capital Kyiv. Officials in multiple major cities reported water supplies were also impacted.

Footage taken by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) shows people gathered in Odesa’s National Scientific Library.

“We only sleep at home. We live here or at different cafes because we don’t have electricity; we have bad Internet connection and bad mobile connection. So we go out and look for different places where we can work and do our tasks,” a man tells RFE/RL. “The library’s director says she’s happy that her generator is being used to help the public during this challenging time.”

Odesa’s mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov said sites had also been established across the city, dubbed “points of invincibility”, where residents could “warm up, charge gadgets, drink tea or coffee, feed your child.”

“The points are equipped with everything necessary to meet the basic needs,” he said. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful

Video transcript

[GENERATOR RUNNING]

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]

- We only sleep at home. We live here or at different cafes because we don't have an electricity. We have bad internet connection and bad mobile connection. So we should go out looking for different places where we could work and do our tasks.

- [NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]