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Ukraine faces harshest winter amid relentless Russian attacks
Temperatures plunging below -15°C have compounded the misery for Ukrainians as Russian forces target energy infrastructure, cutting off heating for nearly a million people. Kyiv, the hardest-hit city, saw almost 6,000 apartment blocks lose heat after the latest overnight bombardment on January 24.
Repeated strikes cripple Kyiv's heating network
This marks the third major attack on Kyiv's heating infrastructure in just over two weeks, following strikes on January 9 and 20 that left hundreds of thousands in freezing conditions. Mayor Vitaly Klitschko confirmed the scale of the damage, warning of prolonged outages.
Residents describe daily uncertainty. "Living in Kyiv is a bit of a gamble these days," Rita, a local, told the BBC. "If you have heating and gas, there's no electricity and water. If you have electricity and water, there's no heating. Coming home is like playing a guessing game-will I shower or have hot tea, or neither? And missiles and drones come on top of all that."
Many now sleep in hats and multiple layers to stay warm.
Soviet-era infrastructure amplifies crisis
Ukraine's reliance on centralized heating plants-built during the Soviet era-has worsened the impact of Russian strikes. These large facilities, known as TETs (heat and electricity centrals), serve thousands of households simultaneously. When targeted, entire districts lose heat and power.
Kyivteploenergo, the capital's heating monopoly, declined to disclose exact figures for security reasons but acknowledged that the "absolute majority" of Kyiv's homes depend on its network. Energy expert Yuriy Korolchuk noted that 11 million Ukrainian households used central heating before Russia's 2022 invasion, compared to 7 million with autonomous systems.
Frontline cities suffer equally
In Zaporizhzhia, a city of 750,000 near the front lines, nearly three-quarters of residents rely on central heating. Maksym Rohalsky, head of the local apartment association, warned of cascading failures if attacks persist.
Korolchuk highlighted the vulnerability of Soviet-designed systems, which were never built to withstand missile strikes. "This is a new Russian tactic," he said. "Previous winters saw occasional attacks, but not direct targeting of heating plants. Now, negotiations may be a factor-it's a form of pressure."
Government scrambles to decentralize heating
To mitigate future risks, Ukraine plans to mandate individual heating points in apartment blocks. However, dismantling decades of centralized infrastructure will be slow and costly. For now, residents brace for more blackouts and cold nights.
"These plants weren't designed for war. The consequences are devastating when they're hit."
Yuriy Korolchuk, Ukrainian energy expert
