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Putin Says Ukraine's Stance on Crimean ‘Energy Blockade’ Surprising

© Sputnik / Sergey Malgavko / Go to the mediabankPower outage in Crimea
Power outage in Crimea - Sputnik International
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The reaction of Ukrainian partners to the electricity blackout in Crimea is surprising, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday.

Transmission tower - Sputnik International
The Crimean Energy Blockade: What You Need to Know
NIZHNY TAGIL (Sputnik) —  Some 2.5 million Crimeans were left without electricity over the weekend when explosions downed several transmission towers in southern Ukraine, according to Russia's Emergencies Ministry.

"These problems will be overcome. The position of our partners from Kiev is the only thing that surprises us, without their silent approval these events could not have taken place — this is obvious and understandable," Putin said at the State Council meeting.

The Russian president explained that Ukrainian partners were talking about "the need of Crimea’s accession to Ukraine and were tormenting people".

Putin stated the necessity of ensuring non-stop provisional power generator operation on the Crimean Peninsula.

Following the electricity blackout, Crimea declared a state of emergency and switched to locally-based emergency power generation. Medical and other crucial elements of the social infrastructure are on backup power.

Crimea rejoined Russia in March 2014 after a referendum in which 96 percent of peninsula residents voted in favor of the move.

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