“How will military react to this?” Kharkiv mayor does not consider option of evacuating city

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said this in a commentary to Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the conference “Restoring Kharkiv. Main goals and plans".

“Tell me, how will the military, who are protecting us, react to this?” he said in response to such a possible scenario.

Terekhov emphasized that Kharkiv is focused on recovery.

“We will build a subway, modern electric transport, electric buses, and purchase cogeneration units,” the mayor said.

He added that the first underground school has been built in Kharkiv and several more will be built by September 1.

He specified that more than 9,000 houses, half of the educational institutions and kindergartens, 40 healthcare facilities were destroyed in Kharkiv, and since March 23, there has not been a single thermal power plant or transformer substation left in the city, so today it is completely powered from other regions of Ukraine.

The mayor emphasized that in order to survive the upcoming winter, Kharkiv is building a decentralized energy and heating system, as well as water supply, and needs international support.

According to him, more than 150,000 residents of the city are currently homeless, and there is a demand for the restoration and construction of housing.

• On June 10, the Russian army attacked Kharkiv three times with guided aerial bombs.