Following a nationwide power outage over the weekend and a Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv on Tuesday night, 1,170 apartment blocks in the Ukrainian capital are currently without heat. At the same time, outside temperatures have dropped to below minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Many residential buildings have already been without heat and electricity for weeks after Russian forces destroyed critical infrastructure. Some households don't even have running water.

Kyiv's mayor, former boxing champion Vitali Klitschko, has said municipal services and energy providers are "working around the clock to restore heat and light" to residents' homes. According to the municipality, workers are doing everything they can to make sure that the hundreds of buildings regain access to water, heating and electricity.

In one apartment block in the Solomianskyi district, the heating system has been out of order for two weeks.

"I take pots of boiling hot water into the bedroom," explained Sviatoslava, a resident, who told DW that she sleeps fully clothed, in a sleeping bag, for extra warmth. During the day, she spends a lot of time in the kitchen. "The gas stove is always on, but I have to air the room from time to time so I don't suffocate."

Residents here are glad workers were at least able to drain the water from the heaters in time to prevent freeze-related damage. A plumber also advised them to pour hot water down the toilets from time to time to prevent the pipes from bursting.

Surrender not an option: 'It's better to hold out'

Russian attacks on energy infrastructure have also particularly affected Kyiv's large northern Troieshchyna district, where authorities have set up army tents and so-called Invincibility Points. The emergency shelters offer heat, tea and generators so people can charge their electronic devices.

Coming out of her apartment block, an older woman complains about the icy streets. "If they didn't have time to clear the snow, they could at least have spread some sand," she said.

Her apartment only has power for six to eight hours a day, and the heating has been out for a week. "It's impossible to stay warm inside," she said. "But the good thing is, we have gas, so we can cook and heat up the kitchen a little."

Her neighbor, Valeriy, chimes in. "Of course, it's hard for us now. We've been heating bricks on our gas stoves because you can't leave them on for too long without getting a headache and having to turn it off," he said.

Valeriy has also been making electricity with a solar generator on his balcony, and he also uses power banks that he charges at the supermarket. That's also where he bought some drinking water after his building's water supply failed.

Despite all these challenges and the soaring food prices, people don't see surrender as an option for Ukraine. "Of course, some would agree to it, but most think that it would be better to hold out. We don't want to live with the Russians," said Valeriy.

Residents take initiative

Tetiana, a housing manager, is waiting near her apartment block for the police. She wants to take action against certain utility companies, with which contracts were signed.

She said the long-distance district heating being directed to her building is at 65 degrees Celsius, but the heaters in the apartments are lukewarm at best. "We contacted the utility company. They sent plumbers from a private company. But before they could do anything, their foreman rushed in, scolded them, and took them somewhere else," she told DW. 

Rather than wait for repairs, Tetiana has decided to insulate the basement pipes herself with the help of neighbors. "Not all of them are wrapped in mineral wool, so people donated old blankets and other warm materials. Now we're wrapping the exposed pipe sections," she said. "Next, we'll check the attic and see if anything needs insulating up there."

The city has said each district has a Invincibility Point. Iryna, a Red Cross volunteer, helps people in one such shelter that has been located in a school since 2022. She said most people come by in the evening, not during the day.

"Here, they can get warm, have hot drinks and grab something to eat. A social worker takes requests, and we help where we can," Iryna told DW. "Food is delivered here."

Lyudmyla Vakulenko, an assistant principal at a local school, is on the phone coordinating the installation of a mobile heating unit with municipal workers.

She said her school has made three classrooms available for younger children, as their kindergarten is without heat. The school is also providing a sleeping space on the first floor for some 20 municipal workers, who came from surrounding cities to help.

Despite everything, the lessons must go on, said Vakulenko. "The children returned from vacation on Monday for in‑person lessons. We always have teachers on duty, and classes are ongoing. We must take care of our children's education."

This article was originally written in German.