Key Points
• Repeated Russian strikes have cut power and heating in Kyiv amid sub‑zero temperatures
• Thousands of apartment blocks remain without heat
• Elderly residents forced to find makeshift ways to stay warm
• Local authorities struggle to restore essential services
ISLAMABAD: Shivering in her flat after power and heating were knocked out, 91‑year‑old Lidia Teleschuk said she could not remember a winter this harsh since World War II, adding, “It will be hard for us to survive.”
Another resident, 89‑year‑old Yevgenia Yeromina, described dressing “like a cabbage” in multiple sweaters to try to stay warm in her dark apartment.
Many are relying on gas stoves to heat water and filling bottles with hot water to keep warm under blankets, according to an AFP report.
According to international media reporting, Russia has stepped up strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, plunging large parts of Kyiv into darkness and cold as temperatures dropped to around ‑20°C.
Tens of thousands of homes have been left without power and heating, with repair crews racing to reconnect essential services amid repeated bombardment.
Despite efforts by local authorities and emergency workers, more than a thousand residential buildings remained without heating, leaving elderly residents particularly vulnerable.
Local officials say repeated attacks on energy facilities have slowed restoration efforts, forcing many residents to seek alternative shelter with relatives or at temporary warming centres.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has urged authorities to expedite repairs and expand support for those most affected, even as harsh winter conditions persist and energy infrastructure remains under threat.
