Kyiv Residents Endure Harsh Winter Amid Energy Crisis

People in Extremely Difficult Conditions

Raisa Derhachova, an 89-year-old physiotherapist, lives alone and sometimes plays the piano, despite what she calls 'this terrifying cold.' "Of course, it's hard to survive. I survived World War II, and now this terrible war hits us again," she stated.

Emergency Interventions in Kyiv

In the Kyiv region, repair teams are tirelessly working to restore electricity, following Russian attacks on energy infrastructure that have left residents exposed during the coldest winter in recent years. In Boryspil, a city with around 60,000 residents, workers are dismantling and reconstructing damaged electrical systems under extremely harsh conditions. They are working at temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius, from morning until midnight, according to Yurii Bryzh, head of the regional department of the DTEK company.

Ongoing Challenges

Although they have managed to restore power for four hours a day, Bryzh explained the recurrent challenge: "When the electricity comes back, people turn on all available electrical devices in their homes" to wash, cook, or recharge gadgets, leading to another system collapse. Citizens face acute difficulties, and Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, described the power outages as the longest and most widespread since Russia's large-scale invasion, with some homes lacking electricity for days on end.

Life in the Freeze

Apartments in the capital are freezing, and residents venture outside dressed in multiple layers to shield themselves from the overwhelming cold. Snow blankets the city, and at night, the streets remain dark, with buildings devoid of electric light. People like Mykhailo and Hanna bring their 5-year-old daughter, Maria, to work because the workplace has a generator, while her kindergarten lacks heat.

Supportive Communities

Zinaida Hlyha, a 76-year-old woman, heats water on the stove and places bottles in bed for warmth. "Of course, it's hard, but if we imagine what our soldiers are enduring at the front, we must persevere," she said. At an emergency center in Boryspil, people sip warm tea in an attempt to find a bit of comfort amid the chaos.