The Ukrainian capital is experiencing power cuts, with many apartment blocks without heating after Russian strikes. Kiev residents are sharing tips on social media to get through the harsh winter.
Ukraine has been gripped by a freezing cold, with temperatures in Kiev well below freezing. President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared a state of emergency in the energy sector.
The situation in Kiev is critical due to the massive destruction of energy infrastructure caused by recent Russian attacks. Electricity restrictions are in effect. Around 400 apartment blocks have no heating at all, and some even no water.
In neighborhoods on the left bank of the Dnieper River, there is electricity for three to four hours, and then there is no electricity for nine to ten hours. This was reported by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko in parliament, where she spoke about the energy supply in Kiev.
“On the right bank, there are five hours of electricity and then five hours without electricity,” she explained, promising to improve the situation within a few days, provided there are no further Russian attacks.
The government is criticizing the Ukrainian capital for its poor preparations for the heating season in wartime conditions. “Kharkov is prepared, it has mobile boilers and generators. Kyiv is in a much worse state, I would say it is not prepared at all. That is why we need to take crisis measures now. The president and prime minister are focusing on that,” Denis Shmyhal, a former prime minister and defense minister, told parliament ahead of a vote on his appointment as energy minister.
People still stay in the city
After fierce Russian attacks on the night of January 8-9, Mayor Vitali Klitschko urged Kyiv residents to leave the city if at all possible, as electricity, heating and water supplies were cut off after the attack.
"I appeal to all residents of the capital who have the opportunity to temporarily leave the city and go somewhere where there is an alternative supply of electricity and heating," Klitschko said on Telegram after the shelling.
Some citizens did indeed leave the city. However, the majority stayed, as the situation in the suburbs was even more difficult.
"In my garden community, people have been without electricity for five days. Everything there depends on electricity, there is no gas supply. Water, heating and cooking, all run on electricity. Anyone who has a stove or fireplace and fuel is at an advantage. You can set up a generator, but you can't get enough gasoline, diesel or gas, and it's expensive anyway. I deliberately chose to live in the city. Moving to the countryside is not an ideal solution for me," writes a user on Facebook who identifies herself as Julija Detkova.
"I work at the school. The children come there. It's our little refuge. We have gas heating and a generator at the school, so I couldn't leave Kiev, even though I have a house in the country," teacher Svitlana told DW.
She added that she has taken precautions at home as well. "We have a high-capacity charger that supplies the entire apartment with electricity, and you can turn on the kettle. Today the situation is much better than it was in 2022 during the power outages back then," Svitlana said.
Thick clothing, blankets, and hot water bottles
This week Vitali Klitschko announced that the situation in Kiev regarding electricity and heating remains very difficult. According to the mayor, the city's emergency commission is discussing further measures.
Meanwhile, Kiev residents are persevering, sharing “strategies for surviving in the cold, without electricity or heating” on social media. Some are posting photos of themselves wrapped in multiple layers of clothing, while others have taken photos of themselves lying under several heating pads.
"For five days in a row, it's only been 13 to 14 degrees in my apartment. There are two states: during the day I'm like a cabbage, and at night I'm like a larva in my cocoon. How do you deal with that? How do you experience the consequences of the Russian attacks?" Tetyana Pečončik, director of the ZMINA Human Rights Center, writes on Facebook.
Many people share their experiences and advice under her post. "Finally, we have heating again. We were without electricity for almost three days," writes Hana Hrizjenko. During that time, she charged her mobile phone in the tents set up by the city. They are equipped with generators and people can warm themselves. "So far, all of this hasn't been so bad," she emphasizes.
"Very warm pajamas and a down jacket. Next Sunday I'm getting a biofuel fireplace, which is small, but provides warmth," writes Facebook user Viktorija Babij.
Famous Kiev blogger Anna Nepljah has her own method. “I try to spend my working day in meetings and spend as much time outside my apartment as possible. I sleep in my clothes and cover my head with a blanket,” the blogger explains on Instagram. Others say they set up tents in the middle of their apartments and spend the night there to keep warm.
Mobile shelters for citizens
State disaster management services have set up 47 tents in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, that are available 24 hours a day. These “points of invincibility,” as they are called, offer heat, tea and generator power to charge mobile phones.
People can also connect to the internet to participate in distance learning or work online.
According to emergency services, more than 9.000 citizens have already visited these shelters. "Over the weekend, many people came with children on sleds. Despite the current situation, the atmosphere in these tents was pleasant," Pavlo Petrov, a spokesman for the emergency services, told DW.
Large supermarkets in Kiev have their own "invincibility points", where people can charge their mobile phones for free or, for a fee, get something to eat.
Food is also distributed free of charge to people in need at the main train station and suburban stations.
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