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Kyiv is facing a deepening crisis as a recent barrage of Russian strikes has crippled critical infrastructure,leaving roughly half the city without heat or electricity. The attacks are part of a sustained campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy grid as winter approaches, raising fears of widespread hardship for civilians. Ukrainian authorities have declared a state of emergency in the energy sector and are scrambling too restore services and secure alternative power sources amid sub-freezing temperatures.
Russia’s continued targeting of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has plunged Kyiv into a severe crisis, prompting the Ukrainian government to declare a state of emergency within the energy sector. The escalating attacks, utilizing drones and missiles, are occurring as temperatures plummet, threatening widespread hardship during the winter months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the formation of a dedicated coordination headquarters to address the situation in Kyiv. “A permanent coordination headquarters will be established to deal with the situation in Kyiv,” Zelenskyy stated. He also directed the government to intensify efforts to secure support from allies, streamline regulations for alternative energy supplies, and review existing curfew policies.
“Work is also underway to significantly increase the volume of electricity imports to Ukraine,” the president added. The move comes as Ukraine struggles to maintain power supplies amid the relentless Russian offensive. This development underscores the vulnerability of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and the challenges facing the country as it seeks to withstand the ongoing conflict.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that a Russian mass attack on Friday left approximately half of the capital without heating and electricity. “The situation in Kyiv is very complicated. This scale is the first in four years, since the start of the full-scale war,” Klitschko said in a social media post.
Temperatures in Kyiv are forecast to drop below -15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) overnight, raising concerns for residents facing a lack of heating. Authorities have established around 1200 warming centers throughout Kyiv since Friday, offering residents a place to shelter from the cold, charge electronic devices, and receive warm food and drinks.
Klitschko previously urged Kyiv residents who have the means to temporarily leave the city while restoration work is carried out. The announcement could influence future decisions by residents and potentially impact the city’s population density as authorities work to restore essential services.
Krievija has been consistently targeting Ukraine with daily drone and missile strikes in recent months, focusing on energy infrastructure and disrupting power supplies during the winter.
