The blanket of snow that covered Kyiv this week gave residents the first chance to test the promise of the new city authorities to clear the streets much more effectively than last year. The results have been less than impressive.
Last winter, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov told Kyiv Mayor Leonid Chernovetsky: “Lyonya, stop messing around. Grab a shovel … and clear away the snow, or we’ll clear you away.”
Chernovetsky didn’t clear up, so the authorities shifted him to one side, replacing him as head of the city administration with their ally Oleksandr Popov. The new man assured the city that the “snow problems” wouldn’t be repeated this year.
But for all the promises, Kyivans said they didn’t see much difference after heavy snow fell over the weekend. Roads and pavements remained covered with snow and ice. Hospitals reported a surge in patients as people lost their footing.
“The authorities are doing a poor job. They haven’t cleaned Darnytsky district at all. I just drove (to the city center) in my car and saw six accidents,” said student Vitaliya Bovsunovksa. “In the center, nothing has been cleaned. They can say whatever they want, but just looking around you can see that nothing is being done.”
According to the city health department, the number of patients arriving at accident and emergency centers jumped from 56 on Feb. 19 to 95 on Feb. 20.
Kyivans have been bitterly complaining about the snow-covered streets and roads, which as well as causing great inconvenience, send people slipping to the ground.
Locals are clear who is to blame.
“It’s got even worse under Popov. If things have changed in any way, then only because they’ve got worse,” said pensioner Lyubov Usycheva. “Nothing is being done in the city. It’s total chaos. Walking is dangerous.”
Early in the morning on Feb. 22, a truck slid off Kyiv’s South Bridge and crashing down a six-meter drop. The driver was injured and admitted to hospital.
Amid the chaos, city authorities said municipal road service Kyivavtodor was working at full capacity.
In a statement, they said 301 snow-clearing machines were at work along with 546 people. On Feb. 21, the city administration said 5,500 shovelers were working.
Before the cold spell arrived, city chief Popov said everything was prepared for clearing snow “in a short period,” although he didn’t specify the number of days or hours.
Snowfall, forecast to continue for the next 10 days, is ready to incapacitate Kyiv and its residents.
“Winter is winter. Of course, snow is not a predictable thing but it’s their job to deal with it. Nothing has changed since Chernovetsky’s time,” said pensioner Olesya Yershova. “But the winter this year is not that severe. And we have to walk and pray not to fall down.”
Kyiv Post staff writer Yuliya Raskevich can be reached at [email protected]
