"Russians are trying to shut down Kyiv." How the city survives at -19°C and under shelling

They are called "carriages of invincibility." They boost morale and offer a touch of warmth and comfort in a harsh winter that this year coincided with an intensification of Russian attacks, writes BBC — Ukraine.

In one of the carriages, Alina watches her youngest son Taras play with toys from international charities that help maintain these carriages.

"It's winter outside and quite cold," says Alina, clearly downplaying the severity of the frosts. This week, thermometer readings in Kyiv dropped to -19 °C. The frost bites to the bone.

"I live on the 17th floor of a new building. The elevator doesn't work; there's no light, no water," she adds.

For Alina's daughter, the carriage becomes a relatively safe and comfortable place to meet friends, and for Alina herself, a small respite from everyday worries.

Павялічыць

Photo: BBC — Ukraine

But when it comes to her 54-year-old father, who died two years ago during the summer offensive near Bakhmut, words fail her, and she cannot hold back tears.

Alina says she will definitely return to the carriage again and is grateful for the relief it provides during the cold weather and nightly shellings.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accuses Russia of deliberately using the cold winter to attack power plants, energy storage facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko this week urged those who can to temporarily leave the city to reduce the load on the energy system. Russian media seized on this statement, calling it a sign of capitulation.

Life without light and heat

But despite all the difficulties, Kyiv residents are holding on bravely.

Yulia Mykhailiuk, Ihor Honcharuk, and their one-year-old son Markiyan live in an old Soviet building after their home was partially damaged by a Russian strike last August.

The couple heats bricks on a gas stove to warm their small apartment even a little.

"Today, the electricity was on for only four minutes," Ihor recounts. "All chargers and power banks are discharged."

"For the first time in a long time, we have a real winter," Yulia ironically notes. "At -12...-16 °C without heating, the apartment cools down quickly."

Power stations that Kyiv residents buy for electricity reserves are almost useless for heating: they quickly run out of charge. For now, the only way to keep the child warm is by using multiple layers of clothing.

For the weekend, the family plans to heed Klitschko's advice and temporarily move to their parents' house outside the city, although, as Yulia emphasizes, this is their own decision, not a result of pressure from city authorities.

The energy crisis is not the only reason for the move: a Russian drone recently hit the house next to their temporary residence, destroying several apartments.

Kyiv's problems are exacerbated by the fact that the city has already endured numerous Russian airstrikes on homes and critical infrastructure. And since more than three million people live in the capital, huge numbers of residents experience electricity outages.

Russia's latest strikes on energy facilities in Kyiv and other major cities have had a cumulative effect, proving much stronger than before.

According to Klitschko, Monday's attack caused the largest power outage in the city's history, and on Tuesday, more than 500 residential buildings remained without electricity.

"Russians are trying to shut down the city and force people to leave Kyiv," stated Vitaliy Zaichenko, CEO of Ukrenergo, in an interview with Kyiv Independent.

"Compared to all previous winters, the situation now is the most difficult," adds Olena Pavlenko, president of the DiXi Group analytical center.

"Each time, restoration becomes more complicated. Everything is covered in ice, and repairing cables and networks is now two to four times harder."

Electricians work around the clock across Kyiv, repairing networks and facilities damaged by Russian attacks.

One frosty morning, we met such seasoned specialists: using excavators and their own hands, they were searching for and repairing damaged cables that power massive multi-story buildings on the left bank of the Dnieper.

The city has repeatedly asked people and businesses to use powerful electrical appliances less: a sharp surge in consumption during electricity restoration overloads the system. Therefore, cable repair work continues almost without interruption.

"This is a temporary repair," admits Andriy Sabko, a worker in the repair crews. "The equipment is operating at its limit so that people at least have light. It will take years to fully restore everything."

War leaves a mark on everyone: it's becoming increasingly difficult to find someone it hasn't affected.

Resilience and Hope

Stanislav, or simply Stas, also came to the "carriage of invincibility" to get warm, meet friends, and charge his phone.

The 11-year-old boy says it's very cold at home: there has been no electricity for 36 hours straight.

He clearly remembers the first day of the full-scale war almost four years ago when he saw bright flashes in the sky from the first Russian strikes.

Now, drones scare him.

"When something flies, it's scary because you don't know if it will explode or just pass by, and you'll stay alive."

Sitting on the top bunk of the carriage with a friend, Stas speaks candidly about the impact of the war on his generation.

"I forget the times when there was no war. I don't remember those moments. Life is difficult," he admits, yet his smile is wide, and his mood is surprisingly cheerful.

All sorts of people gather in the train—seeking warmth, company, and a bit of comfort.

A conversation with an elderly woman, who considers her inconveniences minor compared to the trials on the front, is interrupted by an air raid siren. The conductor orders everyone to leave the carriage and go to a shelter a kilometer from the station. Most return home—to the cold and dark—but everyone, including Stas and Alina, promises to return tomorrow.

Kyiv holds on calmly and bravely. This exceptionally cold winter, even by Ukrainian standards, will only last a few months, and the energy crisis will gradually pass.

But the main thing people fear is that, despite the modest optimism at the end of last year, there is still no end in sight to the war and the inevitable human losses.

• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 9
• 2
• 0