Blockade Activists Seek Full Halt of Power Supply to Crimea

Activists intend to continue "energy blockade" of the occupied Crimea until full suspension of power supply to the peninsula, coordinator of the Crimean blockade Lenur Islyamov told Ukrainian TV Channel 5.

"We will exert pressure on the authorities represented by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine to adopt a law banning power supply to Crimea. To adopt it at an official level, not at our level. We are a community, we encourage the authorities to do that, and we do not set ultimatums. We put pressure on the authorities through our civil position," Islyamov said.

As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine suspended on October 11 power supplies to Crimea through Melitopol–Dzhankoy power transmission line. Deputy Chairman of the Crimea blockade civil headquarters Izet Gdanov reported that hundreds of participants of the blockade gathered around the damaged power transmission line, which did not allow electrical engineers to continue repair work. Therefore, the power line was shut down. Ukrainian Energy Ministry Volodymyr Demchyshyn however denied the existence of "energy blockade" of Crimea.

However, Ukrenergo announced on Monday it continued to supply electricity to Russian-occupied Crimea through two other power lines adding that it would not resort to taking decisions in violation of the Ukrainian legislation and contractual obligations.