Death toll reaches 10; around 2,500 rescued as heavy snowstorm hits Ukraine

Severe storms in Ukraine resulted in at least 10 fatalities and left 23, including two children, injured, according to Ukraine’s Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, as reported by Kyiv Independent on Tuesday.

Odesa Oblast, one of the hardest-hit areas in Ukraine, reported five fatalities and 15 injuries among the casualties.

Emergency services in the oblast, led by Minister Klymenko, assisted 2,498 individuals, including 162 children. In Mykolaiv Oblast, two fatalities and two injuries were reported, while the remaining casualties occurred in Kyiv and Kharkiv Oblast, as per Kyiv Independent.

On November 27, Russian authorities reported one fatality in Crimea due to adverse weather conditions. Significant storms, accompanied by heavy rain, snowfall, and strong winds, affected large parts of Ukraine on November 26-27. This resulted in floods, structural damages, power outages, and transportation issues, as highlighted by Kyiv Independent.

On Monday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy conveyed his appreciation to the rescuers, utility workers, and local authorities for their continuous efforts in carrying out the around-the-clock rescue operation.

“Bad weather has caused power outages in more than 2,000 towns and villages in 16 regions of Ukraine and has also blocked road traffic. I am grateful to all rescuers, utility workers, the National Police, local authorities, and engineers working around the clock to help people,” Zelenskyy posted on X (formerly Twitter).

A substantial 1,530 stranded vehicles were successfully towed, with eight highways in the Mykolaiv and Kirovohrad oblasts still closed. Additionally, traffic is restricted on portions of two roads in Odesa Oblast, as indicated by Klymenko. As of Tuesday morning, approximately 411 settlements in 11 oblasts are reported to be without power.

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