Kyiv residents flee freezing apartments after Russian airstrikes destroy power plant
Residents in Kyiv's Darnytsia district are facing extreme cold after Russian airstrikes devastated local energy infrastructure. The destruction of the Darnytsia thermal power plant has left many without heating or reliable electricity, forcing some to abandon their apartments.
The power in Olexandra Stefanjuk's apartment failed immediately after the airstrikes in early January. For a month and a half, her heating remained broken, and the indoor temperature plunged to just four degrees Celsius. Damp spread across the walls, making conditions unbearable. After ten days without running water, she eventually fled to temporary shelter in western Ukraine.
Vera Fedirivna, another elderly resident, now sleeps under layers of blankets as her apartment hovers barely above freezing. Meanwhile, Taisa Jastremska has adapted by turning her home into a small resilience hub. She secured a steady power supply and built makeshift heating solutions to endure the winter.
The situation is worst on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River, where energy infrastructure lies in ruins. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has faced growing criticism over perceived mismanagement and neglect in addressing the crisis.
With the Darnytsia power plant completely destroyed, thousands remain vulnerable to freezing temperatures. Some, like Stefanjuk, have left their apartments, while others rely on improvised solutions to survive. The long-term impact of the damage will depend on repair efforts and further aid.
