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Mobile shelters provide relief as temperatures plunge
At a suburban Kyiv railway station, two stationary carriages of Ukraine's state rail service have become a lifeline for residents enduring power outages and subzero temperatures. Dubbed "Invincibility Trains," the blue-and-white cars offer heat, light, and a brief escape from the city's energy crisis.
Families seek refuge from cold and conflict
Alina, a young mother, watches her infant son play with donated toys inside one of the carriages. Outside, wind chill pushes temperatures to -19 °C. "It's winter and it's rather cold," she says, understating the severity. Her 17th-floor apartment lacks electricity, water, and elevator service. The train also provides a safe space for her older daughter to meet friends.
Alina's composure falters as she recalls her father, killed two years ago near Bakhmut. Regaining her voice, she calls the train a vital respite from both the weather and nightly Russian missile strikes.
Energy grid under relentless attack
President Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of weaponizing winter by targeting power plants and storage facilities. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko sparked controversy this week by urging residents who can leave the capital to do so, easing strain on critical resources. Moscow seized on the remark as evidence of Ukrainian despair.
Despite the hardship, most Kyivans remain resolute. Yulia Mykhailiuk and Ihor Honcharuk heat bricks on a gas stove to warm their temporary apartment after their home was damaged in an August strike. "We've had electricity for about four minutes today," Ihor says. Their power banks and charging stations sit depleted.
Yulia notes the irony of Ukraine's first "real winter in a while," with temperatures between -12 °C and -16 °C. The couple plans to temporarily relocate to her parents' home outside the city, though they insist the decision is personal, not due to official pressure.
Infrastructure repairs struggle against cumulative damage
Monday night's Russian strikes caused Kyiv's worst blackout yet, leaving over 500 residential buildings without power by Tuesday. Olena Pavlenko, president of the DiXi Group think tank, calls the current situation "the worst" compared to previous winters. "Repairs are now two to four times more complicated," she tells the Kyiv Independent, citing icy conditions.
Engineers work around the clock to restore damaged cables and grids. Andrii Sobko of DTEK Grids describes operating in "emergency modes," with equipment running at critical limits just to provide minimal light. "It will take years and years," he acknowledges.
Children and seniors bear the psychological toll
Eleven-year-old Stanislav, or "Stas," visits the train to charge his phone and escape the cold. His family's apartment recently endured a 36-hour blackout. He vividly recalls the war's first day nearly four years ago, watching "bright orbs" in the sky. Now, the sound of drones keeps him awake at night. "I forget the times when there was no war," he says, his demeanor surprisingly upbeat.
An elderly woman interrupts her conversation to note that her discomfort pales beside the hardships of frontline soldiers. Moments later, an air raid siren blares, sending passengers scrambling toward a distant shelter. Most opt to return home instead, facing the cold and interrupted power-but vowing to come back the next day.
Optimism fades as war grinds on
Kyiv's resilience is tested by repeated strikes on homes and infrastructure. With over three million residents, the capital's power shortages affect vast numbers. While the extreme cold may ease in a few months, many fear the war-and its daily toll-shows no sign of ending.
