Ukraine’s Harsh Winter Struggles
Ukraine is currently enduring its most challenging winter in years. As January’s temperatures drop below -15°C, ongoing Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have left around one million Ukrainians without heating.
Kyiv Under Attack
The capital city, Kyiv, is particularly targeted. Following a Russian assault on January 24, nearly 6,000 apartment buildings were left without heating, according to Mayor Vitaly Klitschko. This marks the third such attack on Kyiv’s heating systems within just over two weeks, with previous strikes on January 9 and 20 causing similar issues for hundreds of thousands.
Residents’ Daily Struggles
One resident named Rita described life in Kyiv as unpredictable. “If you have heating and gas, there’s no electricity or water. If you have electricity and water, you have no heating,” she explained. “Every day feels like a gamble—will I be able to take a shower or enjoy a hot drink?” She adds that she often goes to bed wearing a hat and several layers of clothes to stay warm.
Central Heating System Vulnerabilities
The situation is exacerbated by the widespread use of communal central heating in apartment buildings, where water is heated in a central location and pumped into radiators. Many people are affected when these heating plants are targeted by Russian forces, and the Ukrainian government reports that all major facilities have been hit.
Dependence on Central Heating
Kyivteploenergo, the main provider of heating and hot water in Kyiv, stated that the vast majority of homes in the city depend on its services, although they withheld specific numbers for security reasons. In Zaporizhzhia, which has a population of 750,000, about 75% of residents also rely on central heating.
Historical Context
Before the full-scale invasion in 2022, around 11 million households in Ukraine depended on central heating, compared to approximately seven million that used independent heating. The designs of Soviet-era housing complexes, which include numerous nine-story buildings called “panelki” and five-story blocks known as “khrushchevki”, still dominate urban landscapes.
Future Plans and Challenges
The Ukrainian government acknowledges the vulnerabilities of its centralized heating systems and is considering making individual heating points mandatory in apartment buildings. However, reforming decades of Soviet urban development is likely to be a lengthy and complex process.
