Attempts were made to melt frozen drinking water dispensers with fire in Mykolaiv

Equipment at a purified water distribution point, which was damaged during an attempt to heat it with fire. Photo: Oblteplo

In Mykolaiv, equipment at a purified water distribution point was burned after attempts to heat frozen vending machines with open fire.

Mykola Lohvinov, director of OKP Mykolaivoblteploenergo, reported the incident in a comment to NikVesti.

According to him, people tried to heat the taps and buttons of the dispensers themselves, presumably because the water had frozen. As a result of this intervention, the internal plastic elements were damaged, water leaked and the equipment was flooded.

«This was most likely not arson. The equipment itself are electrically heated. The water probably froze, and someone decided to melt it in this way. As a result, the equipment was simply burned — it is all very sensitive there,» said Mykola Lohvinov.

This is the first such case in the city, but the company does not rule out the possibility of similar situations recurring.

«This is the first case so far. But people are resourceful, so I wouldn't be surprised if it happens again,» added the director of the company.

Equipment at the purified water distribution point, which was damaged during an attempt to heat it with fire. Photo: Oblteplo

Equipment at the purified water distribution point, which was damaged during an attempt to heat it with fire. Photo: Oblteplo

We would like to remind you that in Mykolaiv, due to frost and power cuts, there have been problems with the operation of water distribution points — taps freeze and people cannot get water. The most stable points of operation are those installed by Mykolaivoblteploenergo. For more details, see the explanatory note NikVesti: «Heat, water distribution points and school operations: the current situation in Mykolaiv».

In addition, Oleksandr Sienkevych called on the municipal enterprises Mykolaivoblteploenergo, DEZ Pilot and Mykolaivelektrotrans to check the lighting at free water distribution points in the evening.