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Cold grips Ukraine as heating systems fail
Yulia Hailunas endures subzero temperatures in her Dnipro apartment, relying on makeshift warmth as Russia's strikes cripple central heating across Ukraine. With forecasts predicting -20°C this weekend, residents fear catastrophic pipe bursts and prolonged outages.
Trump announces temporary truce amid doubts
U.S. President Donald Trump revealed Thursday that Vladimir Putin agreed to pause attacks on Ukrainian cities during extreme cold, calling it a humanitarian gesture. The Kremlin later clarified the halt would expire Sunday-coinciding with the coldest weather-leaving Ukrainians questioning its sincerity.
"There's usually a week between major strikes anyway," said Yulia, a Dnipro resident. "I don't know if this is real or just another tactic."
Infrastructure under siege
Russia's repeated strikes on energy grids violate the Geneva Convention, which prohibits attacks causing excessive civilian harm. This marks the fourth consecutive winter of targeted assaults, each leaving Ukraine's systems more vulnerable.
On Saturday, western and central Ukraine faced blackouts after a technical failure disrupted power lines linking to Romania and Moldova. Engineers from Ukraine's rail network and other sectors raced to restore electricity and repair frozen heating pipes beneath apartment complexes.
Frontline suffering persists
While the energy truce dominates headlines, deadly attacks continue elsewhere. A bus in Kherson was shelled Friday, killing one and injuring several. Drone alarms blared across regions, and eastern frontline battles raged unabated, displacing civilians.
In Pavlohrad, evacuees described fleeing their homes with nothing. Kateryna wept as she recounted leaving Vasylkivka, her lifelong home now a combat zone. "Fifty Shahed drones overhead in a single day," her mother Iryna said. "We had no choice."
Diplomatic maneuvering raises skepticism
Trump framed the energy pause as a de-escalation step ahead of peace talks. Ukraine reciprocated by suspending strikes on Russian oil refineries and shadow tankers-a key revenue source for Moscow's war machine. Negotiations resume Sunday in the UAE, though U.S. officials will not attend.
Kyiv claims only one major dispute remains: control of eastern territories. Yet Russian officials tempered expectations, and Ukrainians like Iryna remain wary. "We want peace, but how can we trust Russia?" she asked.
Uncertainty looms
With temperatures plummeting and strikes poised to resume, Ukrainians prepare for another grueling week. "Putin wants to break us," Yulia said. "But we won't let him."
"It's like abandoning a piece of yourself."
Kateryna, displaced resident of Vasylkivka
