District Heating Restored to More Residential Blocks in Kyiv Amid Harsh Winter

Efforts to restore district heating in Kyiv are progressing following extensive outages caused by a significant airstrike earlier this month. According to city authorities, the number of residential buildings without central heating has decreased substantially, with approximately 50 apartment blocks still awaiting reconnection. The disruption initially impacted about 6,000 buildings, representing half of the city's housing stock, after a large-scale missile attack severely damaged energy infrastructure.

Municipal teams are reported to be working continuously to bring heating back to all affected areas. The severe cold, with nighttime temperatures dropping to minus 16 degrees Celsius, has intensified the urgency of these repairs, as many homes have become uncomfortably cold. The restoration process is ongoing, with crews facing significant challenges due to the persistent winter conditions.

Despite progress in restoring heating, Kyiv's electricity supply remains unstable. Regular emergency power cuts mean that many residents receive electricity for only a few hours each day. The situation worsened following another airstrike targeting the Kyiv suburbs, leading to a blackout for approximately 56,000 households in the town of Bucha. Additional emergency outages have occurred in the neighboring areas of Brovary and Boryspil, as energy companies continue to struggle with the aftermath of continued attacks and extreme weather, which complicates repair efforts.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the southern region of Odesa also experienced attacks on energy facilities, resulting in further disruptions to power supply. Ukrainian officials have noted that these targeted strikes on critical infrastructure appear intended to make major urban centers uninhabitable during the winter months.

The ongoing crisis has prompted national authorities to accelerate the import of electricity and energy equipment. Government leaders have stated that all necessary measures have been taken to increase energy imports without delay, aiming to stabilize the supply and support affected urban populations.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's largest energy company reported another missile attack on gas production facilities, marking the sixth such incident within a week. The company indicated that these strikes are deliberately aimed at civilian infrastructure to cut off heating and gas supplies during the coldest period of the year.

On the military front, Russian forces have announced the capture of two settlements, Pryvillya in the Donetsk region and Pryluki in the Zaporizhzhia region, according to official statements from the Russian defense ministry. The ongoing conflict continues to place additional strain on Ukraine's infrastructure and civilian population as the country grapples with one of the harshest winters since the start of the war.