Talk is Cheap: Meaning behind President's bitterness over "Invincibility Points"

Thousands of ad hoc “Invincibility Points” will be accessible in case of prolonged power cuts and corresponding humanitarian problems. They are expected to fit 400 people each and have all the essential resources like a generator, water reserve, drugs, and simple foods. They are to be deployed in the event of an emergency.

In a video address to the nation, Volodymyr Zelensky explicitly stated that such makeshift centres are to be prepared against the clock. According to his data, 4,000 of these shelters have been entirely equipped by November 2.   

Three-day blackout, water shortage, and lack of communication following the missile strike on the infrastructure on November 23 exposed the need in such centres. However, some citizens who wished to access them were destined to fail. Firstly, because of no cell signal and Internet, it was particularly hard to find the right location. Only a few bothered to check the address of the nearest shelter in advance. Secondly, the centres that were ultimately found shared the problem – lights were off. 

This provoked the President to rant and rage against the capital's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, labeling the ‘Invincibility Points' issue in Kyiv a "profanation" and dramatically claiming that "this will not be forgiven." It is unclear what was the intent of Volodymyr Zelensky. Surely enough, explicit condemnations of one of the most popular city officials in a state backlashed into burning questions about the work of the presidential administration itself.

Klitschko merely replied that now would be the worst possible timing for political turmoil.

Furthermore, other city mayors that have long been holding their complaints against the national government (and not voicing them out of “Now-is-not-the-time” logic) risk being unfairly accused. And they can start acting proactively, talking about the presidential team's overall effectiveness regarding the population's humanitarian protection. Moreover, unlike the President, the persons who did voice the initial claims do not have media immunity and do not enjoy sympathy or even respect among the population. Case in point, an MP from the Servant of the People party, Davyd Arakhamia, and one of the deputy heads of the Office of the President, Kyrylo Tymoshenko),

Mind has looked into who is at fault and what Ukrainians, or Kyiv citizens, among others, should do during the next blackout to have a secure hiding place.

The exact locations of the “Invincibility Points” are listed here. It's important to understand that it has been compiled upon incoming requests. Well-intentioned entrepreneurs, in particular, have joined the effort. Therefore, its contents may vary. The required basis is a generator, blow heater, or its substitute, Internet, hot water, and necessities for making hot drinks.

Mind that such makeshift shelters do not work by default. They will be accessible on a larger scale with a full-blown energy crisis. Present-day cutoffs are not the case.

How the elderly and disabled could learn about “Invincibility Points”? In Kyiv, these last few days, social workers have been taking care of it. They call the retirees (those registered as welfare recipients who lost their provider, thus being vulnerable) or caretakers of the disabled and inform them about the closest centres. Transportation is also offered.

Are “Invincibility Points” and 'Warming Centres' the same thing? Essentially, yes. Shelters like these open up every winter in the cities – they help disadvantaged social groups to survive. However, for PR reasons, the Presidential Office has renamed them.

The number of help centres has undoubtedly increased and will continue to do so.

Does only Kyiv have problems? How is it going in other cities/regions? Same way. The amount of criticism directly depends on local authorities' rating, who are unsettling.

The Presidential Office claims that the capital is the least prepared for the emergency. Though, if, say, Uman needs only a dozen of these shelters, it amounts to thousands in Kyiv. 

Besides, the awareness and assistance to local authorities often directly rely on the degree of loyalty to the OP and security for the rating of the state authorities. However, even the most loyal and secure mayors received the instructions and a list of unified requirements for the “Invincibility Points” no more than two or three weeks ago. That said, the smartest of them neither count on the central government nor wait for its orders. They prepare for the winter single-handedly.

Why then the President couldn't reproach some of the mayors for inadequate, in his opinion, preparation? Because the “Invincibility Points” are a presidential project, so, their arrangement the central government attributes to itself. The fact that the work is essentially entrusted to the cities, apparently, does not bother anyone.

Heads of military administrations, appointed by the President and granted full authority, are responsible for the centres. For Kyiv, such a person is Sergiy Popko.

Who bears the costs of the arrangement? Local authorities, of course.

Mykhailo Fedorov’s Ministry ofonly announced the process of purchasing the next batch of Starlinks to furnish the centres with means of communication. That does not stop the OP from blaming the local authorities for their absence.

Why make Klitschko the scapegoat? This is yet another twist in the long-standing confrontation for control over the capital, which the Office of the President failed to attain. So far, the successes of the OP have been limited to imposing deputies on the capital's mayor and negotiations with the deputies of his group.

The war led to the formation of a military administration, which de jure had to consolidate power. Still, it did not hurt Vitali Klitschko's rating. Everyone knows the name of the capital's mayor; only a few know who the head of the military administration is.

Let's go back to the “Invincibility Points.” At least somewhere, are they ready? Yes, they are. Kyiv residents should focus on centres prepared by the Emergencies representatives, particularly fire stations.