Kiev Residents Seek Help Amid Russian Strikes and Harsh Winter

Struggles of Kiev Residents Amid Winter Hardships

At a railway station in the suburbs of Kiev, two cars painted in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukrainian Railways sit on the main platform with their diesel engines running as snow falls steadily. Although the train is not going anywhere, it provides an essential service for dozens of people left without electricity and running water.

These are Ukraine's "Invincibility Trains," designed to boost public morale and offer comfort during a brutal winter coinciding with intensified Russian attacks. In one of the cars, Alina watches her young son, Taras, playing with toys provided by international organizations supporting this service. "It's winter and it’s quite cold outside," Alina says, an understatement considering that temperatures in Kiev have reached -19C this week.

"I live in a new building on the 17th floor, but we have no elevator, no electricity, and no water," Alina adds. While Taras plays, Alina feels it's a relatively safe and comfortable place for her child to meet friends. It also provides a welcome distraction as her husband works all day in a factory, yet she finds herself tearing up when she recounts her 54-year-old father’s death on the front lines two years ago. Gaining composure, Alina expresses her gratitude for the railway's assistance against the harsh weather and nighttime Russian strikes.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of deliberately exploiting the harsh winter to target electrical stations and critical infrastructure. Kyiv's mayor, Vitali Klitschko, controversially suggested that city residents who can should leave to help reduce pressure on critical resources. Despite these evident hardships, most people in Kiev remain stoic and ready to endure.

Yulia Mykhailiuk and her husband, Ihor, are trying to keep their apartment warm using heated bricks on their gas stove, as their home has been partially damaged by a Russian attack. "We had electricity today for four minutes," Ihor says, adding that "all our charging stations and power banks are out of capacity."

"Compared to all past winters, the situation is now the worst," says Olena Pavlenko, president of a local think tank. "Everything is frozen, and repairs to cables and networks are now two to four times more complicated."

Engineers are working around the clock to locate and repair damaged cables due to attacks, and city authorities are urging residents not to use high-consumption electrical appliances. However, the efforts of each team of engineers are acknowledged as temporary solutions.

Despite ongoing challenges and risks, residents of Kiev maintain an optimistic outlook, hoping that while the cold will not last more than a few months, the war is far from over.