In her Soviet-era apartment block on the outskirts of eastern Kyiv, Oksana Zinkovska-Boyarska lives with daily power cuts. The lift to her eighth-floor apartment often stops, the lights go out and sometimes the pumps maintaining pressure in the gas central heating fail.
She has a big rechargeable battery pack to keep appliances going, but it costs €2,000 (£1,770) and it only lasts so long. Her husband Ievgen, a lawyer, often has to work by torchlight. Their two-year-old daughter Katia plays by candlelight too.
Amid air raids and cold darkness, Oksana says she and Ievgen worry constantly for Katia. I can't describe with words the animal fear when you take your child to the shelter during the explosions.”
All across Ukraine, families are bracing for even tougher times ahead as Russian President Vladimir Putin continues his assault, targeting the nation’s power supplies. Just last weekend, a massive drone and missile strike left much of the country temporarily without power, and Ukrainians now endure consistent power cuts lasting up to 16 hours daily.
In winter, temperatures in Ukraine can drop to -20°C. A senior government official warns, I think it will be the worst winter of our history. Russia will destroy our energy, our infrastructure, our heating... all state institutions should be prepared for the worst scenario. DTEK’s Max Timchenko adds, Based on the intensity of attacks for the past two months, it is clear Russia is aiming for the complete destruction of Ukraine's energy system.
Yet, despite the dire circumstances, Ukrainians continue to show resilience. Oksana reflects, For all the fears for my daughter, we have no choice but to endure it. I always think it is much worse at the front line. As winter looms, the battle for Ukraine's survival continues against the backdrop of a conflict that tests their spirit and resolve.
