A large Russian aerial strike on Ukraine has again left half of Kyiv's residential buildings without heating or power as temperatures across the country continue to hover around -10C.
Drones, ballistic and cruise missiles targeted several locations in Ukraine, including Kyiv, Dnipro in the centre, and Odesa in the south.
Air raid alerts in the capital lasted for most of the night. On Tuesday, sirens rang out again as Russian drones and cruise missiles approached the capital.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said a significant number of targets had been intercepted. But he also stated that, in terms of air defense missile prices alone, repelling that attack had cost Ukraine about €80m (£69m).
Between Monday and Tuesday, at least four people died and 33 others were injured in strikes across Ukraine.
On Tuesday morning, more than 5,600 residential buildings—each with dozens of flats—in Kyiv woke up to no heating. A large part of the capital also has no water.
Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said almost 80% of those buildings had just had their heating restored following the large-scale attack on 9 January, which knocked out power for much of the city. Since then, relentless efforts by technicians had managed to reinstate electricity and gas for thousands—only for that work to be undone overnight.
I have no electricity and no water, Oleksandr Palii, a 29-year-old veteran, told the BBC. I didn't sleep until 3am because of the strikes either – there were explosions all night.
The Ukrainian president had been due to travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday but, after the overnight strikes, he decided to stay in Kyiv.
Temperatures have stayed well below freezing since the start of the year.
Ukrainian media has reported instances of radiators bursting due to the water in them freezing, leading to flooding in entire buildings. There have also been reports of fires starting due to people using gas heaters indoors.
As power cuts continue, Kyiv residents are finding innovative solutions to carry on living. Many now use portable stoves to cook, and entire buildings chip in to buy generators. But much depends on individual financial capacities.
I think people who are less well-off are coping much worse, says Olha Zasiadvovk, who has a young child. She has bought lamps and thermal containers for her child's kindergarten so that when the kitchen has no electricity they can cook all the meals at once and store them.
In recent days, videos have circulated on social media showing Ukrainians barbecuing in snowy yards and dancing to keep warm amid power disruptions and freezing temperatures. But many say this is the worst winter since the start of the full-scale war in 2022, and with no end to hostilities in sight, nerves are frayed.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said, The resilience of the Ukrainian people cannot be an excuse for this war to continue. It must end as soon as possible.
More than 10,000 people, including nearly 800 children, sought refuge in Kyiv's metro stations on Monday night, as many high-rise buildings often lack proper shelters.
President Zelensky mentioned the recent aid received in missiles to repel the attack, but reiterated the continued importance of developing air defense systems amid increased attacks from Russia.
The ongoing conflict has raised concerns about the effectiveness of military support and the pressing need for additional resources to ensure the defense of the Ukrainian people.
