Over 1,000 apartment complexes in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, are currently lacking heating after a severe Russian assault earlier this week, as per local officials on Sunday. Since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia on February 24, 2022, Russia has escalated attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Russia conducted numerous attacks on Ukraine, utilizing drones, guided bombs, and various missiles, including ballistic and cruise missiles, over the past week.
A missile strike in Kyiv on Friday resulted in the city losing power and heat, with authorities only managing to restore water supplies and partially reinstate electricity and heating by Sunday. Zelenskyy accused Russia of intentionally waiting for freezing temperatures to worsen conditions for the Ukrainian populace, labeling it as “cynical Russian terror specifically against civilians.”
The ongoing conflict has severely damaged the energy grid, leading to a precarious situation for utilities, with temperatures dropping below -12°C and expected to plummet to -20°C later in the week. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that despite ongoing restoration efforts, the energy supply in the capital remains challenging due to the severe cold weather.
The Ukrainian Energy Ministry reported that Russian forces launched another attack on the country’s power system during the night, causing a brief electricity outage in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko noted that there were 44 attacks on energy facilities and critical infrastructure throughout the week. Despite the challenges, significant progress in restoring heating and electricity in Kyiv is anticipated by Thursday, although complete recovery will take time.
Images taken in Kyiv show residents coping with the aftermath of the attacks, highlighting the hardships faced by the population amidst the ongoing conflict.
