Ukrainian capital paralyzed by snowstorm

KIEV, Ukraine -- The city of Kiev has declared a state of emergency after the Ukrainian capital was paralyzed by an unprecedented snowstorm that has stalled car, railway and air traffic.The city was hit by about 50 centimeters (20 inches) of snow in the past day, more than it usually receives per month during this season.
Tractors, armored vehicles and other heavy equipment were dispatched Saturday to clear roads blocked by kilometers-long traffic jams. Desperate to get home, some Kiev drivers simply abandoned their stalled cars on the roads and set out on foot.
Kiev's main airport, Boryspil, was working with delays, the smaller Zhulyany airport was closed and Ukraine's International Airlines grounded all its planes until Sunday morning.

Ukraine has told its public sector workers in Kiev to stay home on Monday as exceptionally heavy snowstorms blanketed the capital and other parts of the country over the weekend, forcing authorities to declare a state of emergency.
Kiev's private sector has been urged to follow suit, officials said Sunday.
The equivalent of a month's snowfall has covered Ukraine in the last two days, stopping traffic and leaving many vehicles buried under snowdrifts.
More than 600 towns and villages suffered power cuts.