More than a thousand apartment buildings in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv are still without heating and electricity following a major Russian assault on the country's energy grid. The strikes, which took place overnight, have left residents vulnerable as temperatures plummet well below freezing.
A Deliberate Attack in Freezing Conditions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of cynically timing the bombardment to coincide with a severe cold snap, branding it "a cynical Russian terror specifically against civilians." He revealed that over the past week, Russian forces have launched a staggering arsenal, including over 1,100 drones, 890 guided aerial bombs, and 50 missiles of various types.
The attack on Friday, 11 January 2026, disabled heating systems across Kyiv, leaving virtually the entire city without power during the cold weather. Authorities have since managed to restore water supplies and have begun the arduous process of reconnecting electricity and heating, but the situation remains critical.
Capital Faces a Dark and Cold Winter
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Telegram that restoration work is ongoing but warned that the energy supply situation in the capital is "very difficult." With forecasts predicting that severe frosts will continue, with temperatures set to plunge to -20°C, he admitted that "the difficult situation in the capital will continue."
This incident marks a significant escalation in Russia's long-running campaign against Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a strategy intensified since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. The energy ministry also reported that Russian forces attacked power systems again overnight, briefly cutting electricity to the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions.
Ukraine Retaliates with Caspian Sea Strike
In a retaliatory move, Ukraine's military announced it had struck back later the same day, targeting three drilling platforms in the Caspian Sea owned by the Russian oil firm Lukoil. The military identified the platforms as V. Filanovsky, Yuri Korchagin, and Valery Grayfer.
In a statement, the military confirmed direct hits on the facilities, which it said are used to support the Russian occupation army. The extent of the damage is currently being assessed. This action underscores the widening geographic scope of the conflict as Ukraine seeks to disrupt Russian logistics and funding.
As the war enters its fourth winter, the combination of targeted infrastructure attacks and extreme weather threatens to create the coldest and darkest conditions for Ukrainian civilians yet, with the immediate humanitarian crisis in Kyiv highlighting the severe challenges ahead.
