Large parts of Kyiv remain without electricity and heating. The Ukrainian capital, home to more than three million people, is facing severe disruptions to power and heat supply caused by Russian air strikes on critical infrastructure. According to Ukrainian sources and President Volodymyr Zelensky’s evening address, more than one million consumers were without electricity in Kyiv on the evening of January 20.
Various reports indicate that between 4,000 and 5,600 apartment buildings were left without heating on Tuesday evening. Power and heating outages may continue for days, as there is a constant shortage of qualified technicians and electricians needed to repair the damage.
Despite the situation, Ukrainians refuse to break under Russia’s illegal attacks. Across the country, hundreds of so-called “Points of Invincibility” have been established to help people cope with blackouts. At these locations, residents can warm up, charge their phones and power banks, and access basic services. In Kyiv, even community kitchens have emerged, allowing citizens to prepare hot meals during outages.
“I just returned from Kyiv. It feels like a nearly dead city, like something out of a post-apocalyptic movie,” says Victorya Kadenko.
“There are hardly any people on the streets. During the day, children still play on playgrounds as usual, but now… it feels so surreal. The impressions are strange, the emotions are strange — yet people keep living, supporting one another. Small businesses — cafés — feed people for free and help them stay warm.”
Victorya lives in a smaller town in the Kyiv region, where electricity and heating currently function in a so-called normal mode. Even there, however, power is available for only 12 hours a day.
“The power bank from Finland has helped us a lot,” Victorya says.
“We always charge it first when the electricity comes back. It guarantees light and power for our devices — and even for our microwave.”
A Red Cross volunteer distributes hot drinks to Kyiv residents.
Portable toilets are widely used in many areas of the city.
At the “Points of Invincibility,” people charge phones, smart devices, and power banks.
Dozens — if not hundreds — of “Points of Invincibility” have been set up across Kyiv due to Russia’s cowardly attacks on civilian infrastructure. Kyiv fights on — and will not break.