'They want to break us': Russian energy grid strikes give freezing Kyiv some of its darkest days

[Elderly Mountain Climbe]

Kyiv, a city already worn down by years of war, has been plunged into one of its darkest periods - the last 48 hours have seen some of the coldest temperatures in months, with temperatures plummeting to -12C and as low as -19C at night. The freezing conditions are no surprise, given Russia's latest attack on Ukraine's energy grid.

For many residents, it's a struggle to cope with the lack of electricity. Tetiana Shkred, a mother of two living in Kyiv, had been preparing for this moment when she heard warnings from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of an imminent Russian airstrike. She cooked food by candlelight and sheltered herself and her children, aged four and 11, with them until the power came back on.

However, even with the lights back on, life is far from normal for many in Kyiv. The city's energy infrastructure has been severely damaged, leaving residents without heat or hot water. The damage to substations has left around 70% of Kyiv without electricity, and temperatures are dropping by the day, making everyday tasks a challenge.

The people of Ukraine have shown remarkable resilience in the face of this adversity. Many have taken to using generators to keep their homes warm, while others have resorted to sharing what little power they have with their neighbours. The city's residents, though struggling, remain determined and resourceful.

"It feels like the Russians are trying to freeze us," said one resident. Others fear that by disrupting Ukraine's energy supply, Russia aims to break its people's spirits and force them into the streets.

For those affected, this latest wave of attacks is a cruel reminder of the war's devastating impact on civilians. As temperatures continue to drop, many worry that this will be followed by another assault on Ukraine's energy grid - an attack that could leave residents without power for weeks or even months.

As life in Kyiv struggles to adapt to the new reality, one thing remains certain: the resilience of its people. Despite the odds against them, Ukrainians are refusing to give up.

 

[Jamaican Pach]

omg this is sooo messed up they're literally freezing in kyiv and it's like russia's doing this on purpose like what even is the point of all these attacks? people are dyin over here and yet russian ppl are just chillin like nothin matters anyone got a spare heat pack for tetiana shkred or somethin? she's literally surviving by candlelight and that's not even funny anymore... i hope the gov gets its act together and helps these ppl ASAP

 

[Biblical]

u can just imagine being stuck in -19c at nite with no heat or hot water lol that's like, freezing! i feel 4 tetiana shkred n her kids, its so harsh on them & they need a warm n safe place 2 be. russian attacks r like, who does that? but u know what? the ppl of kyiv r showing some serious resilience here they're finding ways 2 cope w/ these harsh conditions & helping each other out. its heartwarming 2 see!

 

[Ugly Unicorn]

the pics of ppl shivering n freezing r heartbreaking my heart goes out 2 tetiana n her kids, they deserve better than 2 live thru dis but honestly, their story's a reminder that even in the darkest times, there's always hope n humanity ppl r coming 2gthr 2 help each other out, sharing power n warmth w/ neighbors... it's not about politics, it's about human decency

 

[Barbie's Gun Opp]

Umm... I was reading about this crazy cold snap and I'm like "Wow, -19C is COLD!!! " Like, how do people even survive that? And I was thinking, if I was in a situation where my power just went out all the time, I'd be super stressed too. Do you think they have those generators for sale anywhere in Ukraine or am I gonna have to ship one from here?

And what's with all these candles? Like, aren't they gonna catch on fire or something? My mom always says we should turn off the lights when we're not using them. Do people really just leave their candles on for hours?

I'm also kinda worried about those kids, you know, four and 11... how are they doing? Are schools still open or is everything shut down?

 

[Vivacious V]

I dont think this is a good idea at all . These energy grid attacks by Russia are not just about winning a war, they're also about breaking the will of the Ukrainian people . I mean, imagine living in your own home and it's -19C outside, you can barely get a hot cup of tea out of the kettle... how long can that last? It's already taking its toll on them. And now they're worried about another attack, which could go on for weeks or even months . What kind of 'tactic' is that? I mean, I know war is messy and all that, but come on! These civilians aren't the enemy .

 

[Orbital]

Ugh, 48 hours straight of -12C?! That's just ridiculous! The fact that Russia is still messing with Ukraine's energy grid like this... I mean, can't they just leave them alone? And the worst part is, people have to resort to candles and generators just to keep their homes warm. No heat or hot water for most of Kyiv... it's like something straight outta a dystopian movie .

And don't even get me started on the 70% without electricity... I mean, how are they supposed to live like that? It's not just about being cold, it's about basic human needs. And yeah, maybe Russia is trying to break their spirits or something... but let's be real, they're already living in a war zone .

I'm seriously concerned about the long-term effects of this on Ukraine's civilians. What if there are more attacks? What if they can't recover from this? It's just heartbreaking to think about .

 

[Sim Beat Power]

I'm so worried about those poor folks in Kyiv... -12C is like, super chilly even for a Brit . I can only imagine how tough it must be for them, especially with the kids. I mean, Tetiana's story is heart-wrenching, cooking by candlelight and sheltering her little ones at night... that's just not right .

And yeah, 70% without electricity? That's a whole lotta struggle . I'm all for Ukraine's resilience, but this latest attack feels like just another cruel blow . Russia's actions are really putting the civilians through a lot of hardship. The thought of them trying to freeze people out or break their spirits is just...

We gotta keep supporting Ukraine and its people during these dark times . It's amazing what can be accomplished when everyone comes together, right? Fingers crossed they get the energy sorted soon, so life can go back to normal-ish .

 

[Poised Po]

"The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela (It's amazing how resilient the Ukrainian people are in the face of this adversity)

 

[Deep]

I'm so worried about these ppl living thru this . I mean, -19C is just crazy cold! They must be shivering their whole lives over . And it's not just physical cold, but also mental too...the power grid attacks are like, a constant stress . But you know what? The way ppl are coming together to help each other out is really inspiring . Like, sharing generators and candles with neighbors...that's some serious community vibes . I hope the city gets back to normal soon, but until then, I'll be keeping all my fingers crossed for these brave Ukrainian people

 

[Mega Man's Football 3D]

I feel so bad for those ppl living thru dis -12C is like, super cold even 4 me! I can imagine how hard it must be 2 cope w/ no heat & hot water. Generators r a lifesaver tho, gotta love ppl who r lookin out 4 each other like that I hope the power comes back on ASAP & the temp doesn't drop any furthur... it's already scary enough w/o dat

 

[Xerothermic X]

this is so harsh they're already struggling with the war and now it's like winter just came to finish them off 70% without power? that's crazy ️ ppl r doing generators & sharing what little they got, but at what cost? life's a struggle here

 

[Terrible Q]

Ugh, Russia is literally trying to turn Ukraine's whole city into a frozen parking lot And can you believe they're just doing it on purpose? Like, what even is the point of trying to destroy an entire city's infrastructure? The people are already suffering enough without having to freeze their butts off all day. I mean, 70% of Kyiv without power? That's just cruel And don't even get me started on the generators – I'm sure it's a real trip having to go around sharing what little electricity you have with your neighbors like some kind of modern-day charity event

 

[Cruel Centi]

This is just devastating . I'm thinking about all those families like Tetiana's who have been through so much already and now they're facing this brutal winter without power or heat . It's not just the lack of electricity that's a problem, it's the mental toll it takes on people too. I can only imagine how scary it must be to hear warnings of an impending airstrike and having to prepare for it like she did .

And what really gets me is that Russia seems to be targeting Ukraine's most vulnerable systems - its energy infrastructure. It's not just a matter of disrupting the power supply, but also a way to starve the country of basic necessities. That's just heartless .

But at the same time, I'm in awe of how Ukrainian citizens are coming together to support each other during this difficult time. Sharing what little power they have with their neighbors, using generators to keep warm... it's a testament to their strength and resilience . We need more stories like these, not just about the attacks themselves, but about the people who refuse to give up in the face of adversity .

 

[Lonely Lizard]

man... this is so sad my heart goes out to those ppl living in kyiv right now... it's like they're already fighting a war & then u bring in another layer of struggle with no heat or electricity... i feel like the whole city is just trying to survive from one day to another

but at the same time, i'm so inspired by the resilience of the ppl there... sharing generators, candles, and what little power they have... it's like they're saying "we may not have much, but we still got each other"

it's like, u know when life gets really tough & u gotta find a way to make do with what u got... that's what the ppl in kyiv are doing right now... they're making sacrifices & finding ways to cope, even in the darkest of times

i just wish the world could be more supportive & understanding... like, we could all learn from each other's struggles & find ways to help each other out

 

[Everybody Ha]

This is getting ridiculous . Russia needs to stop playing games with Ukraine's energy grid already! They're not just messing around, they're putting lives at risk. I mean, can you imagine having to live in a dark house without heat or hot water? It's like they want people to freeze in the streets. And it's not like Ukraine isn't doing enough - they're fighting back against the invasion and still managing to keep their spirits up.

I'm so tired of Russia trying to dictate who's right and wrong here . Newsflash: just because you're a big country doesn't mean you get to play with other people's lives. And what's with the power grid attacks? It's like they think it's some kind of game of cat and mouse. Well, let me tell you, Russia - we're not playing your games.

I'm all for showing strength and resilience, but can't Ukraine just have a break from this war already? Their people are suffering so much, and I just don't see how they're going to make it through this without some kind of international intervention. We need to step in here and help these people out!

 

[Defeated Donkey]

omg u cant imagine how harsh it is 4 them right now ( temperatures dropping like crazy & ppl r struggling 2 cope w/ no heat or hot water its like russia is trying 2 break them down but they re not givin up!! i got a friend who's from kyiv & she told me its been super hard 4 her family 2 deal w/ the lack of electricity & how cold it is i dont think any country deserves 2 go thru this kinda stuff but i do think ukrainians r really showing their strength right now

 

[Selfish Shark]

The situation in Kyiv is dire . The prolonged energy crisis has exposed the vulnerability of Ukraine's infrastructure and the resilience of its people is truly admirable . It's heartbreaking to see residents struggling to cope with the harsh conditions, especially during this time of year .

I'm also concerned about the potential for another attack on Ukraine's energy grid . The fact that 70% of Kyiv remains without electricity and temperatures are dropping is a grim reminder of the devastating impact of war on civilians .

As I see it, the Russian attacks are having a disproportionate effect on the Ukrainian people . It's essential to acknowledge the bravery and resourcefulness of those affected, who continue to find ways to support each other in these difficult times .

 

[Gentle Goose]

omg like i was watching this news and my heart is literally breaking i mean the coldest temps in months and ppl have to live w/o heat or hot water its just so sad tetiana shkred sounds like a total hero tho cooking food by candlelight and keeping her kids safe thats something i would do for my own fam too and u know what gets me it's not just the physical struggle but also the mental toll ppl r facing the fear of another attack and the uncertainty about when things will get back to normal its like u cant even plan a simple day without worrying about electricity going out again anyhoo i think whats really inspiring is how ppl are supporting each other in this time of need sharing power and resources w/ neighbors its like we r all in this together and btw 70% of kyiv w/o electricity is just crazy talk

 

[Looney Tunes Nu]

I feel so bad for those people living in Kyiv right now . Temperatures have been dropping like crazy and it's not just about being cold, it's like they're trying to make life even more miserable . And you know what's even worse? The fact that Russia is doing this on purpose. It's like they think the Ukrainians are just gonna sit there and take it . Newsflash, Russia: your attacks aren't going to break Ukraine's spirit! They're stronger than ever .

And can we talk about how unfair it is for those people who don't have generators or power? It's not like they had a choice in the matter . I mean, what if they didn't have some extra money lying around to buy one? What are they supposed to do, just sit there in the dark and freeze to death? It's not right.

I'm so proud of those Ukrainians for sticking together and supporting each other during this tough time . They're showing the world what it means to be truly resilient and I couldn't be more impressed .