Kyiv Remains Without Heat in 1,330 Buildings Following Russian Attack, Mayor Reports

Over 1,300 apartment buildings in Kyiv remain without heating following a Russian missile and drone strike earlier this week, Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported on Sunday. Since its 2022 invasion, Russia has sharply escalated attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

On Saturday, a large-scale assault on Ukraine’s energy system rocked Kyiv with overnight explosions, cutting power to roughly 1.2 million homes and businesses across the country amid freezing winter temperatures. The attacks came as Ukrainian, Russian, and American officials held talks in Abu Dhabi to explore potential paths to end the conflict.

“Russia is targeting our energy sector, critical infrastructure, and residential buildings,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on X, noting that in just one week, Russia launched over 1,700 drones, 1,380 guided bombs, and 69 missiles against Ukraine. He warned that each massive strike could have devastating consequences and emphasized the importance of international support during his visit to Lithuania on Sunday.

Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported that more than 3,200 buildings in Kyiv were without heat on Saturday evening, down from 6,000 earlier that day. Klitschko added on Telegram that utility crews have since restored heating to around 2,000 buildings, leaving approximately 1,330 still without service.