- "Local authorities have not performed well in all cities," the president said.

Photo combo of Volodimir Zelenski and Vitali Klitschko. / Wikipedia

Zelensky harshly criticizes the mayor of Kyiv: "The biggest complaints are there, more work is needed"

Ukraine's President Volodimir Zelensky has criticized Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko over the provision of emergency shelters, in a sign of discontent rarely seen among Ukrainian leaders since the start of the Russian invasion.

As reported by Sky, the president indicated that Vitali Klitschko, a former boxing legend turned politician, had not done enough to help residents of the capital face the most devastating blows of the war in Moscow.

Most regions of Ukraine have been affected by blackouts this week, and while the six million people currently affected are down from the peak of 12 million a few days ago, Zelensky said "the biggest problems" were in Kyiv.

"Unfortunately, local authorities have not performed well in all cities," he said in his late-night video address. "In particular, there are a lot of complaints in Kyiv. To put it mildly, more work is needed," he said.

Zelensky said many of the city's residents had been without power "for 20 or even 30 hours" and called for "more support" and "quality work" from the mayor's office.

Following Russia's aerial bombardment of its neighbor's energy infrastructure, an attempt to inflict maximum damage as winter approaches, Ukraine has been establishing 'invincibility centers'.

These are emergency shelters where people can access heating, water, internet, and mobile phone services. More than 4,000 have been established so far, but according to Zelensky, there are not enough in Kyiv.

Klitschko, a key face of the Ukrainian resistance since Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion began in February, has not responded to his president's criticism.

Read this also: Putin's Gasps At An Event This Week Fuel Rumors About His Health Again