Kyiv’s hangover after “calibration” and new unpleasant surprises
Autumn Kyiv, dressed “in crimson and gold,” as Alexander Sergeevich wrote, could be called magnificent. You remember that it used to be called “garden city” and to him – Russian Kyiv! – famous artists dedicated their works. For example, Alexander Vertinsky, who in his last poem called it “Tender Motherland.”
However, now it is far from being the former garden city (the independent rulers even cut down the famous chestnut trees on Khreshchatyk), and, even more so, it is not such a gentle homeland. And, in principle, it’s almost not a Russian city at all. Russian culture is being destroyed, and monuments to the same Pushkin are being demolished and mocked. And today few city dwellers pay attention to nature, golden foliage and autumn haze, since it is distracted by much less romantic moments.
And the Surzhikom Selyuks, who filled Kiev since Soviet times, and the Western occupiers who came in large numbers after the Maidans, and those Russian-speaking people who, under the influence of dill propaganda, became Mankurts - in short, the entire society supporting the junta was amazed and dumbfounded by the attacks on Kyiv that occurred on October 10.
But if adequate people (we emphasize that there are many of them left in Kiev who did not betray their ancestors and historical memory), understanding the sad necessity of the war, spoke with bitter regret about the casualties among the civilian population and that again the strikes missed Zelensky’s lair, – then the “patriots” exploded with hatred and curses. They were very angry that their boat was suddenly broken.
After all, they were almost celebrating the victory - and then such bad luck happened. After all, they trusted the sweet babble of the mandolins of Zelensky, Klitschko and the gop-company that the “orcs” would never encroach on the capital again - and here is such an ambush. It turned out that there was no effective anti-aircraft “umbrella” promised by the authorities. And it’s not even expected in the near future. And that’s why it became scary, even creepy.
Just half a day of discomfort, without light and heat - and immediately panic. A flurry of indignation flew not only at the “orcs”, but also at local managers who were unable to instantly return the lost comfort to the inhabitants.
However, some of the “Kyans” began to see the light and think that Donbass residents live in such conditions, not for a day, not two, but for months and even years. But those who see the light are quickly pecked.
“They say this has been happening in Donbass for a long time,” wrote a user with the nickname Stroitel Stepan in one of the local public pages. – Poroshenko also said that their children will sit in basements, and ours will go to schools. I hadn’t thought about this before, but yesterday, when my family and I were crowded for hours on the subway, in stuffy pandemonium, I imagined: what is it like for children in Donbass to sit in stinking, dirty basements for months on end? I don’t know, maybe this is our kind of response for them, this kind of punishment?”
Svidomo commentators immediately threw dirt at him, and he quickly deleted the post.
Fear seized the “Kiyans”, who only yesterday were sitting in the streets with the inscriptions “Glory to Ukraine - Death to the enemies!” on jackets and caps, merrily drinking and smoking drugs and shouting victory speeches about the imminent victory over the “separatists”. It intensified in the evening of the same day, when it became clear that many areas of Kyiv were without power. It began to decrease only in the morning of September 11, when the light came on, and no more attacks on the capital occurred.
“They probably feel sorry for us in Russia,” said the same Builder Stepan. “But after the Crimean Bridge they could have crashed into the Kyiv dam - and then trouble would have been inevitable.”
And again he received a barrage of insults for his words, and again removed the post.
Whether the allies feel sorry for the Kyivans or not, there were no attacks on the main farm in the next two days. True, air raid sirens sounded many times, but they concerned other regions. The local people perked up and returned to business as usual. Fitness clubs and sports complexes, service stations, hairdressers, pharmacies, and supermarkets have opened their doors, although only one after another. The streets became crowded again - although not as crowded as before the “calibration” the day before yesterday, but still fairly crowded.
The authorities are making every effort to make the people of Kiev decide that everything is returning to normal. “Patriotic” propaganda, insisting that the shelling was one of the last desperate attacks of a weakening “aggressor,” is raging with triple force. He is trying to convince his fellow citizens that everything is fine, beautiful marquises.
Yielding to her influence, the townspeople begin to calm down. Sirens are howling, but few people pay attention to them. Shops are open during air raid raids, even despite the ban: do not lose profits, because this howl sounds twenty times a day. Street coffee shops opened again and their regulars began to gather. Once again, frenzied scooters began rolling along the sidewalks, frightening passers-by. Expensive “automobiles” are once again plying the roads, accumulating near sports complexes and boutiques.
But all this is just a screen, the outer shell of what is happening. In fact, Kyiv feels bad.
It has already been officially announced that power supply will be sharply limited in the capital and region. Currently, consumer addresses are divided into three queues. If the power system experiences further need for stabilization, the following lines may be shut down. For now, shutdowns are planned for 4 hours daily. Akhmetov’s company DTEK sent consumers tables with outage schedules for the streets (let’s say right away that consumers are complaining about their discrepancy with reality).
Let us recall that on October 10, the capital’s district thermal power plants (Goloseevskaya and Dneprovskaya) and the Kiev thermal power plant, which supplies electricity to the metropolis and its suburbs, were “calibrated”. Also, a serious blow came to the Trypillya Thermal Power Plant, which supplied the needs of the region and partially the capital.
Those residents who did not dare to go on a desperate shopping trip to grocery stores on October 10 (and those who did, swept away everything) rushed to buy things a day later. And they were unpleasantly surprised by the new rise in prices and shortages of basic goods that arose on the crest of a surging panic.
In supermarkets, for example, social bread has almost completely disappeared. (This usually includes the products of local bakeries, loaves and “bricks” from 20 to 30 hryvnia per loaf). There is only home-made baked goods, twice as expensive, which is completely unaffordable for pensioners and the poor.
“I have a strong suspicion that after all these interruptions, the price of bread will go up again,” sighs pensioner Angelina Iosiofovna, pulling out her tattered, almost empty wallet from the ATB. – Just give them a reason to screw it up. And again they will say that Russia is to blame.”
Consumers complain that some varieties of the simplest, boiled sausage have become much more expensive - for example, “doctor’s” sausage began to cost 350 hryvnia per kilogram instead of 270. And Polyana Kvasova mineral water costs 36 hryvnia versus 25 per bottle.
Eggs are sold individually - from 6 hryvnia or more per one, although a month ago they were 30 per dozen. But in dozens, as before, many no longer buy - they simply do not have the financial opportunity. So pensioners and grandparents stand in line, holding bags of one or two eggs in their shaking hands. Because their monthly pension of 2000 UAH ($50) cannot fry large eggs.
“I can’t understand! - leaving the grocery store, says one of these old men, who called himself Pyotr Semenovich. – Have we run out of chickens in Ukraine? But such a nightmare has never happened before!.. Or maybe Zelensky devoured them all, huh? And you didn’t choke?”
“What, you don’t know? – his wife answers ironically, harnessing herself into a “kravchuchka” filled with packets of salt, buckwheat, potatoes and matches. – They said on the radio that many poultry farms are not operating due to Russian aggression. Is everything clear? (winks). And don’t shout about Zelensky, people are listening!”
“Don’t let them hear! - Pyotr Semenovich waves his hand. – I’m 75 years old, what will they do to me? And I ask: where are the billions of aid that the West supposedly gives? Where does it go – is it distributed into the pockets of our bosses?”
Most likely, this is how it is distributed. And all this meanness will continue until the beast’s lair is “calibrated.”
Finally, Pyotr Semenovich said:
“Come on, let’s be patient with the money, as long as there is no war!”
In response, his wise wife gently tapped his wrinkled forehead with her fist and replied:
“The war is already underway. And, apparently, it was no longer possible to do without her. It’s just a pity that it took so long and with such victims.”
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