Ukrainian supermarket chain Silpo said it would keep two stores in Kyiv open around the clock to help locals cope with the ongoing energy crisis at the request of Ukraine’s economy ministry.
The stores are located in the Troyeschyna district in northeastern Kyiv, at 91/29a Honore de Balzac Street and 61/2 Mykola Zakrevskoho Street, the company told Interfax Ukraine on Friday.
Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said Friday morning that 378 buildings in Kyiv remain without heating after Russia’s Jan. 24 attack – most of which are in the Troyeschyna district.
Silpo told Interfax Ukraine that the decision was made at the request of the Ministry of Economy.
“At the request of the Ministry of Economy, the chain changed the opening hours of these supermarkets to support the residents of the Desnyanskyi district. Now you can charge your gadgets, use Wi-Fi, buy everything you need, or just warm up at any time of the day,” it said.
On Jan. 29, the economy ministry asked retail chains to support residents of Kyiv’s Desnyanskyi district by keeping certain grocery stores open 24 hours. The district administration published a list of participating stores and their addresses on its website.
The nationwide curfew, introduced after Russia’s 2022 invasion, remains in effect in Kyiv from midnight to 5 a.m., but the recent energy crisis caused by Russian attacks on the grid has prompted some rule relaxations.
On Jan. 16, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said locals could go outside during curfew hours to reach “Points of Invincibility” – emergency aid centers that offer heat, power and basic services; taxi services were also allowed to operate during curfew hours.
Minister for Communities and Territorial Development Oleksiy Kuleba said any exceptions would apply only during long heat or power outages, while Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said curfew rules may be relaxed only in areas where an official energy emergency has been declared.
Fear of renewed Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid is rising as the country braces for another cold snap, with temperatures expected to drop to -30 °C (-22 °F) in some areas.
US President Donald Trump stated that Vladimir Putin agreed not to target energy facilities, but with no official confirmation, the prospect of a truce remains uncertain as of Friday.