Over 1,670 Kyiv buildings are still without heating after Saturday’s massive Russian strike, with temperatures lingering below freezing, Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said Sunday.
On Saturday, Russia launched a massive missile and drone strike on Ukraine’s energy grid during the Abu Dhabi trilateral talks, cutting power to 88,000 households in Kyiv and leaving the entire city of Chernihiv completely without electricity.
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On Sunday morning, Kyiv Post correspondents reported indoor temperatures as low as 6.9°C (44.4°F) in apartments enduring more than 24 hours of extensive power cuts.
Klitschko, in his Sunday morning update, said Saturday’s attack once again cut heating to nearly 6,000 buildings, with emergency workers having restored heating to over 1,600 buildings just overnight.
However, he said 1,676 buildings remain without heating.
“Currently, 1,676 high-rise buildings in Kyiv are without heating after the enemy’s attack on the capital on Jan. 24,” Klitschko wrote. “Since last evening, utility and energy workers have restored the supply of heat to over 1,600 houses. And they continue to work to return services to the homes of Kyiv residents.”
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Saturday evening that over 800,000 locals in Kyiv have no power.
Klitschko added that the latest strike follows two similar major attacks over the past two weeks, cutting heating to homes just as repairs had been completed.
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“Let me remind you that due to damage to critical infrastructure, almost 6,000 houses in the capital were again without heat supply yesterday. Most of them have already been connected or tried to be connected to the heat supply twice after the shelling on Jan. 9 and Jan. 20,” he wrote.
Shymhal shared similar remarks on the energy sector.
“The situation with electricity. Unfortunately, constant attacks by the enemy do not allow us to stabilize the situation,” he said.
“The power system does not have time to recover.”
In his Sunday update, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia launched over 1,700 drones and dozens of missiles this week alone, adding that Ukraine needs more air defense to fend off the attacks.
“This week alone, the Russians have launched over 1,700 strike drones, more than 1,380 guided bombs, and 69 missiles of various types,” Zelensky wrote. “That is why missiles are needed for air defense systems every day, and we continue to work with America and Europe to provide more protection for the sky.”
Zelensky previously said Kyiv spent $80 million to fend off a major Russian attack in one night. After his Thursday meeting with US President Donald Trump, the two reportedly discussed the possibility of sending more Patriot missiles.
After the Jan. 20 attack, Klitschko warned of an impending “humanitarian catastrophe,” saying more than half a million people had already fled Kyiv and urging others to leave if they could.
After the Jan. 9 attack, the Kremlin suggested that targeting Ukraine’s energy grid in subzero temperatures was meant to pressure Kyiv into concessions in peace talks. While some speculated that an energy truce might be on the table during the weekend’s Abu Dhabi negotiations, later statements indicate no progress has been made.
But for those in Kyiv, the only relief may be that temperatures are expected to rise above freezing on Monday – however briefly.
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