Kyiv is enduring some of its most brutal days since the full-scale invasion began, not from direct assault by tanks, but from a relentless campaign against its energy infrastructure that has left residents freezing in the dark. The impact of a major raid on 9 January rivals the early, terrifying weeks of the war, with Moscow's clear intent to paralyse the capital through cold and darkness.
A Midnight Meal in Anticipation of Darkness
On the night of 9 January, with warnings of massive imminent Russian airstrikes from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Tetiana Shkred began cooking for her children at midnight. Fearing another power cut in her left-bank Kyiv apartment, she worked until 3am, when her flat was finally plunged into freezing darkness. She and her two children, aged four and 11, huddled in a shelter space between two walls as missiles and drones struck.
When the attacks ended, they faced the aftermath in a severe cold snap, with daytime temperatures at -12C and nights dropping to -19C. Despite having storage batteries, everything in her home is electric. "No electricity means no water and I can't cook," she explained. "For the first 24 hours, there was no heating. We were all in thermal underwear, ski clothes, and then more on top, all sleeping in the same bed."
A Strategy to 'Disconnect the City'
The intention behind the strikes is unmistakable. Following fresh attacks on Monday night, Ukraine's state grid operator, Ukrenergo, stated Moscow's aim was to "disconnect the city." Chief executive Vitalii Zaichenko said substations had been hit, leaving 70% of Kyiv without electricity and forcing people to consider leaving.
This intensified focus on energy infrastructure has caused major blackouts in Odesa, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia in recent weeks. The crisis is compounded by freezing weather and a growing shortage of spare parts for repairs. Even in areas of Kyiv with more reliable supply, rolling blackouts darken streets, cafes, and supermarkets, where escalators and conveyor belts stand still.
Warming Tents and Community Resilience
In the worst-hit neighbourhoods, where power remains unreliable days after the attacks, emergency services have erected heated tents in the snow, offering warmth, hot drinks, and stew. At a point on Kharkivske Shose, Alla Polischuk sought refuge with her teenage daughter, Iryna, after their flat had been without power for three consecutive days.
"The worst thing is the cold," Alla said. "It doesn't matter how much you dress, you can still feel it on your skin. I'm afraid they are trying to freeze us. They waited for this cold snap." Some in her building have heeded Mayor Vitali Klitschko's advice to temporarily leave the city.
Local initiatives highlight the community's determination. Near a shuttered cafe, building manager Oleksandr Matienko showed a well-organised setup with a large inverter and 12 batteries, but warned of strain when power briefly returns. Across the road, School 329, closed due to internal temperatures of around 10C, now serves as a warming centre and distributes emergency LED lighting.
Valentina Verteletska, the school's deputy director, whose home is 100 metres from an apartment block hit on 9 January, believes Russia's goal is to break Ukrainian spirit. "I think the Russians want to break us... They want to make Ukrainians angry and unhappy," she said. "But this makes us tougher and more determined. War amplifies who you are, and we have seen a lot of volunteering to help neighbours."
Matienko echoed a grim assessment shared by many: "You can see with your own eyes what is going on. They are trying to kill us. They can't win any other way. So they are willing to do anything to destroy Ukraine." As the deep freeze continues, Kyiv's residents face a battle for basic survival, demonstrating resilience against a strategy designed to weaponise the winter cold.
