Russia Hammers Ukraine's Power Grid in Winter, Leaving 1,700 Kyiv Towers Without Heat

Russia Hammers Ukraine's Power Grid in Winter, Leaving 1,700 Kyiv Towers Without Heat A relentless Russian campaign targeting Ukraine's energy infrastructure has plunged cities into a winter crisis, leaving hundreds of thousands without heat and power as sub-zero temperatures grip the nation. The strikes, which have intensified in recent weeks, are creating a severe humanitarian situation and have been condemned as acts of terror timed to coincide with peace negotiations [58412]. The capital, Kyiv, is among the hardest hit, with nearly 1,700 high-rise apartment buildings still disconnected from central heating following months of attacks on power plants and heating systems [58341]. In some districts, residents have endured blackouts lasting over 16 days, forced to rely on candles and warm clothing to survive freezing conditions inside their homes [58548]. One resident described the temperature in her damaged apartment as unbearable, with little support available as authorities struggle with widespread repairs [58548]. The assault is a deliberate strategy, experts say, aimed at breaking civilian morale by creating maximum hardship during winter [58553]. Peter Zalmayev of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative labeled it an "energy war" and called for an immediate "electrical ceasefire" to protect vulnerable populations [58553]. The vulnerability is exacerbated by Ukraine's Soviet-era centralized heating grid, where a strike on a single plant can cut off heat to entire districts of apartments, hospitals, and schools at once [58213]. The attacks have continued despite diplomatic efforts. A major missile and drone barrage struck Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv on January 24, coinciding with the opening of new international peace talks in the United Arab Emirates [58413]. That attack wounded at least 27 people in Kharkiv, including a 12-year-old boy, and killed one woman in Kyiv [58413]. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys accused Russia of speaking "the language of terror" by launching the strike during negotiations, which left 1.2 million people without electricity and heating [58412]. In response, Western allies are urgently calling for stronger air defense systems for Ukraine to protect civilians and infrastructure [58412]. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has directly linked the urgent plea for more air defense to the protection of civilians from these attacks [58557]. Russia Targets Ukraine's Power Grid in Winter Kyiv's Winter Crisis: 1,700 Towers Still Lack Heat After Attacks Kyiv Endures 16-Day Blackout as Peace Talks Continue Russia Strikes Ukraine Cities as Peace Talks Open Russia Speaks "Language of Terror" in Blackout Strike During Peace Talks Cold War Heating Grid Leaves Ukrainian Cities Exposed Kyiv Freezes Under Russian Strikes as War Talks Continue