More than 1.5 million people in Odesa, Ukraine’s largest port city, were left without power over the weekend following a series of Russian attacks in the region.
All non-critical infrastructure in the southern Ukrainian city was without power after Russia used Iranian-made drones to hit two energy facilities, according to officials.
Since early October, Russia has targeted Ukraine’s critical energy infrastructure, including power plants, transmission and distribution facilities, and water pumping stations, leaving millions of people without power, heat, or water.
Despite the attacks and resulting power outages, Ukraine’s agriculture minister Mykola Solky said there were no plans to suspend grain shipments from Odesa’s Black Sea ports.
Source: Radio Poland
Polish ski jumper Dawid Kubacki took first place at a World Cup event yesterday in Titisee-Neustadt, Germany, claiming his eighth career World Cup victory.
The 32-year-old Pole made jumps of 139.5 and 143 meters to top the leaderboard with 309.7 points. He was followed by Slovenia’s Anze Lanisek in second place with 284 points and Austria’s Stefan Kraft in third with 283.1 points.
Kubacki’s teammates Piotr Zyła, Kamil Stoch, and Paweł Wąsek also performed well during the competition, finishing in fourth, eighth, and eleventh place.
After six individual events this season, Kubacki tops the overall World Cup standings with 470 points, ahead of Lanisek with 416 points and Kraft with 377.
Source: Radio Poland, www.fis-ski.com
Polish officials warn of difficult weather conditions across Poland, with eastern provinces hit the hardest by heavy snowfall.
Sunday brought snowstorms across the country, along with sub-zero temperatures and strong winds, leading to frequent accidents, traffic disruptions, and local power outages.
Snow has been falling across the eastern parts of Poland since Saturday night, carpeting the Małopolskie, Podkarpacie, Lubelskie, and Mazovian provinces in the south and east of the country.
The conditions result from a low-pressure system moving from the southeast to the north of Poland, bringing blizzards and powerful winds.
More snow is predicted to fall over the coming days, with officials encouraging residents to be prepared for additional power outages and traffic disruptions.
Source: Radio Poland
Officers from the Gdańsk City Guard have begun handing out reflectors to seniors as part of the “Safe seniors – be visible on the road” campaign.
From now until the end of December, officers will visit locations popular with seniors to distribute free reflectors, including senior citizens’ homes and clubs, local markets, and churches.
According to campaign organizers, a pedestrian walking at night without reflective elements is visible to drivers from a distance of about 20-30 meters (65-100 ft). A vehicle moving at a speed of 70 km (44 miles) per hour travels about 20 meters (65 feet) per second, giving drivers little time to react.
With reflective elements, a driver can spot a pedestrian from a distance of 130-150 meters (425- 490 ft), giving drivers crucial additional seconds to respond.
The “Safe seniors” campaign aims to encourage seniors to take care of their own safety and wear reflective gear, as many accidents could be avoided if pedestrians were equipped with reflectors.
More information on the campaign is available on the website of the Gdańsk City Guard at https://strazmiejska.gda.pl/.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Starting today, Gdańsk residents can choose and cut their own Christmas tree as part of the annual “Choinko Branie” or “Christmas Tree Harvest” hosted by the Gdańsk Forest Inspectorate.
Residents can find and fell their own Christmas tree from 12:00-14:00, Monday, December 12 to Friday, December 16, or on Saturday, December 17, from 8:00 to 15:00 at the forester’s lodge in Sopot (access from Spacerowa Street).
Each tree costs 50 PLN in cash, and residents should bring their own tools, such as a hand-held wood saw, along with appropriate gloves and other winter gear.
For those not wanting to cut their own tree, from December 19-21, already-cut trees will be available for purchase in forester’s lodges around Trójmiasto, including Biała, Marianowo, Wyspowo, Stara Piła, Dębogórze, Cisowa, Rogulewo, Zwierzyniec, Witomino, Renuszewo, Matemblewo, and Sobieszewo.
The sale of cut Christmas trees will be conducted from 11:00 to 16:00 next week or while supplies last. An additional sales point will be open from 9:00 to 16:00 on Sunday, December 18, at the Marszewo Forest Botanical Garden.
According to forestry spokesman Łukasz Plonus, when placed in a stand with water, live Christmas trees should last until Epiphany (January 6) or longer if cared for properly.
Additional information on this year’s “Choinko Branie” can be found online at: nadlesnictwo.gdansk.lasy.gov.pl/aktualnosci.
Source: Radio Gdańsk
Weather
Today will be cloudy and cold with a good chance of snow showers throughout the day and winds coming in from the north. Temperatures will be slightly warmer than yesterday, with a high of 2°C, or 36°F, dropping to a low of -2°C or 29°F overnight. Somewhat colder weather is expected tomorrow, with a chance for clearer skies later in the week.
Elizabeth Peck
