On the evening of June 29, the capital of Ukraine was hit by a powerful natural force. Thunderclouds gathered over the city, the sky was covered by a dense gray canopy, and a sudden increase in wind turned the streets into a high-risk zone. Residents of Kyiv witnessed how gusts of wind swayed the crowns of trees, and in some areas of the city, power outages began.
Streets under threat
The situation in the city is developing rapidly. Local Telegram channels and eyewitnesses are publishing videos showing dark clouds looming over the city, while the wind bends trees with incredible force. One recording captures the moment when a powerful gust of wind literally tore a tree out of the ground with its roots, turning it into a dangerous obstacle on the roadway.
In addition to the threat of falling trees, heavy rain caused flooding of roads in certain areas. Water flooded the streets, creating difficulties for both vehicles and pedestrians.
Energy workers at the limit
Against the backdrop of the natural disaster, DTEK has put emergency crews in Kyiv and the region on an enhanced mode of operation. Energy workers are working around the clock to promptly eliminate the consequences of accidents and restore electricity supply. The company has also appealed to residents to use electricity economically to avoid creating additional load on the overloaded network.
Bad weather has engulfed the entire country
Kyiv became just one of the cities affected by abnormal weather. Earlier that day, severe weather hit Lviv. There, gusty winds damaged the contact network, tore off part of the roof of the district administration building, and led to a temporary suspension of several tram routes.
Forecasters had warned in advance of worsening weather. The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center declared a yellow danger level for June 29–30, predicting that bad weather would cover a significant part of Ukraine's territory.