Kyiv's Chilly Struggle: Power Outages Hit Homes as Winter Bites

A Harsh Winter

In Kyiv, a deep freeze is making life tough. Hundreds of thousands of homes are in the dark and cold after recent Russian strikes. The mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, reports that about 500 tall buildings have no heat. The power situation is so bad that even important services are struggling to get the electricity they need.

Overnight Attacks

The attacks happened overnight. Russia sent over 300 drones, along with missiles, targeting eight regions, including Kyiv. The main goal? Ukraine's energy systems. It's a strategy Russia has used before, trying to disrupt life during winter.

Below Freezing Temperatures

Temperatures in Kyiv are expected to stay well below freezing. For many, like Kateryna Serzhan, this winter is especially harsh. She says her family only had power for an hour and a half on Monday.

"The battery-powered heaters barely provide any heat," she shared.

Struggles in the Cold

Kyiv resident Halyna Prokofieva, 71, is also feeling the cold. She waited for a tram that never came due to the power cuts.

"I haven't had electricity or heating since yesterday," she said. Her daughter sent her warm clothes from America, but even that isn't enough.

Casualties and Injuries

The attacks have caused more than just power outages. In the Kharkiv region, four people were killed in a missile strike on a postal service terminal. In Zaporizhzhia, two women working at a power company were injured.

Military Updates

Meanwhile, Ukraine's military leader, Oleksandr Syrskyi, spoke with a top U.S. general about the situation. He described the frontline as "difficult" and said Russia is using the cold as a weapon.

Russia's Response

Russia claims its attacks are a response to Ukrainian strikes on its own infrastructure. In Russia, the governor of Belgorod warned that people might need to evacuate if the power situation gets worse.