The hardest cold reaches the countries that make up the continent. Antique USSRis expected to have uneven results. countries like Moldova, Kyrgyzstan anyone Ukraine can be damaged by the ‘general winter’ attack, Russia does not see the arrival of the coldest months of the year as a problem. In the case of Ukraine, the Russian attack greatly reduced its power. energy infrastructure, including nuclear power plant ZaporizhiaThe largest in Europe, it was disconnected from the network as a result of bombings and clashes that took place around it.
According to the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr ZelenskyAt the end of December, nearly nine million Ukrainians are experiencing electricity problems. For example, this is the case of Yulia’s family, who explained that her relatives in the west of the country were suffering. daily power outages. Outages can last up to several hours, and “those who use electricity for heat” problem”. Yulia adds that they are “not experiencing gas supply problems” at the moment.
Moscow has threatened to cut off the supply of hydrocarbons, which continue to reach some European countries through gas pipelines through Ukraine, after accusing Kiev of stealing natural gas passing through Ukrainian territory. A threat that, if fulfilled, could affect many countries in Eastern Europe. Ukraine has stopped consuming Russian gas since Kremlin annexation Crimea and supported the separatist uprising. Donbass in 2014
Inside Moldova Life has become quite complicated for citizens due to extremely high inflation of up to 35 percent and occasional cuts in Russian gas. Forced to “use” some of its citizens. firewood (to warm up), as XIX century”, while others went into debt to pay their winter gas bills. “The situation is very bad because of war” assures Iván, who resides in the country’s capital. Moldova, which has a border with Ukraine, suffers indirectly from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Aid from the Moldovan government tries to make up for the hardships caused by the war.
air pollution
In Central Asia, on the other hand, the problem has turned into a completely different problem. The largest cities in the region suffer from ‘smoke’, a form of air pollution. atmospheric pollution It is produced, among other factors, by the combustion of coal. due to supply problems in Central Asian countries that do not have hydrocarbon reserves, such as Kyrgyzstan Y Tajikistanauthorities rely on this fuel to meet their needs energy needs. The age of facilities, especially heating, also contributes to increased pollution.
In the case of Kyrgyzstan, the lack of its own energy resources and the poor economic situation have had harmful side effects that have made its capital, Bishkek, the most important country in the world. the dirtiest in the world in mid-December. Since then, the country still has at least six cities with unhealthy pollution levels, although it has managed to drop some positions in the classification created by Swiss consulting firm IQAir. Bishkek Y osh. “The ‘fog’ problem seasonalEL PERIÓDICO DE CATALUNYA of the Prensa Ibérica group, analyst specializing in Central Asia, assures that this is largely due to heating and thermal power plants. Frank Olmos.
hot exception
It is a very different situation. Russia, a place where the majority of its citizens are not expected to feel cold at home or suffer from high levels of air pollution. As is the case every year, it is common for central heating to transform enclosed spaces—such as private homes and public buildings—into warm, enclosed spaces. small saunas, because its tenants cannot turn off thermostats or regulate the temperature. The norm is that the sinister coats that Russians wear outside are stored in closets and wardrobes to make way for the youth. short sleeve clothes or practically write it down even though the thermometer can show the outside temperatures below zero.
existence large hydrocarbon reserves On the territory of Russia, the world’s second-largest oil and first natural gas producer, Moscow allows its citizens to spend lavishly on heating their homes. And always at very low prices compared to other countries. For example, in the same capital cubic meters of gas costs the consumer the equivalent of € 0.01, while in Spain a price of about € 0.74 per m3 is paid.
“Inside the house, in the Moscow region, So hot and even sometimes more”, says Olga, a Muscovite who prefers not to give her last name. However, she also notes that she is tied to the address, as she sometimes has to use the “electric stove” in her current home. In any case, the usual thing is that the windows do not cool to the point where it is sometimes necessary.
Propaganda from the media universe close to the Kremlin was used to reinforce the idea: Europe will cool This winter. In one of the published videos shared by names such as the director of the Russia Today chain, Daisy Simonianpartially reflects the situation of some countries. former Soviet Republics, just like the case of Moldova mentioned earlier.