With the first snow falling on much of Ukraine Wednesday, about 1 million people were without heat

With the first snow falling on much of Ukraine Wednesday, about 1 million people were without heat as regional utilities were locked in payment disputes with Naftogaz. In Kriviy Rih, residents seized the local gas company headquarters. In Smila, in Cherkasy region, residents blocked an international highway. Prime Minister Groysman threatened to get the Rada to fire mayors who do not turn on the heat. At the end of the day, the Cabinet of Ministers banned shutting off gas to heat supply companies this winter. Last week, Yulia Tymoshenko, the populist presidential candidate, rose in polls after she harshly criticized the Nov. 1 gas price hike.