Kyiv Faces Heating Crisis After Attack

Kyiv’s mayor, Vitaly Klitschko, reported on Sunday that around 1,700 apartment buildings in the city are still without heating following a recent Russian missile and drone assault.

Since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has significantly intensified its strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

On Saturday, a significant assault targeted Ukraine’s energy systems, resulting in loud explosions throughout the night in Kyiv and leaving 1.2 million households without power amidst freezing winter conditions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed concern, noting, “Russia’s current main targets are our energy sector, critical infrastructure, and residential buildings.”

Zelenskiy reported that this week alone, Russia launched over 1,700 drones, more than 1,380 guided bombs, and 69 missiles against Ukraine.

During a visit to Lithuania on Sunday, Zelenskiy warned that any major attacks from Russia could lead to devastating consequences. He emphasized the importance of collaboration with global leaders to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against the ongoing threat from Russia.

On Saturday, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba informed that over 3,200 buildings in Kyiv were heatless, a reduction from 6,000 earlier in the day.

Klitschko stated on Telegram that utility teams have managed to restore heating to over 1,600 buildings since the previous evening, and work continues to get more residents back to normal.

This large-scale strike on Kyiv occurred simultaneously with ongoing negotiations between Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials in Abu Dhabi, aimed at exploring potential avenues to resolve the conflict.