
"This was planned on the schedule for March 2015, but we have set a task to our power engineers to correct that deadline."
Russian winter holidays begin on New Year's Eve December 31 and run through Orthodox Christmas (January 6) and Old New Year's (January 13).
Vice Premier Dmitry Kozak said that by 2016, all power utilities will be working full force in Crimea, although he said there may be some brownouts in residential areas.
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
We are carefully analyzing everything that happened. Today's tragic event will have serious consequences for the future of Russian-Turkish relations.
"It's as if we downed the Turkish plane, and they didn't down our plane. What do they want, to put NATO at the service of ISIL?"
"We will never tolerate that such crimes be committed as today. And of course we count on the fact that the international community will find the strength to come together to fight this common evil."
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick
Aleksei Miller, CEO of Russia's gas monopoly Gasprom said Ukraine had only enough gas to last several more days. Since the pre-payment from Naftogas has not been received, Russia may shut off the gas. Said Miller (translation by The Interpreter):
"The volumes of prepaid gas are ending. I think there is about two days' left. If the pre-payment will not be received, the gas deliveries to Ukraine will be halted."
"Even with such minimal draws of gas by Ukraine, there is about several days left of the pre-paid gas. Then if there will be no pre-payments, the deliveries of gas will be halted."
"It is a rather significant increase. Of course, that can't help but be worrisome, because first of all Ukraine will need the gas from the underground reserves to get through the fall and winter peak in January-February."
"But of course a shortage will arise. And some power stations possibly will require some sort of halt or search for other sources of coal. "
Novak said that Ukraine was failing to repair the pylons "for political reasons," RBC.ru reported.
A "citizens' blockade" has been underway since September, blocking food trucks to the Crimea and driving up food prices 10%. This past weekend an explosion took place near the protest, causing a major power outage in the Crimea. Protesters clashed with police but ultimately allowed a repair crew to come through. But there was another explosion at the same site soon after officials arrived and since then, the repair crew has been idling and the work stalled.
-- Catherine A. Fitzpatrick