Kyiv mother faces hardship maintaining warmth and food for children during power outages

Residents in Kyiv are enduring severe hardships as Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure have left hundreds of thousands without electricity and heating during one of the harshest winters in recent years. Volunteers distribute hot meals in the Ukrainian capital as families struggle to meet basic needs, with power outages disrupting daily life across the city. Yuliia Dolotova, a mother of two in the Troieshchyna district, waits in line with her young son for food she cannot prepare at home due to the ongoing energy crisis.

According to reports, life for many Kyiv residents has been reduced to securing essential warmth, light, and food. The power outages in Kyiv stem from repeated Russian attacks targeting the country’s energy grid, which have caused unprecedented damage to power stations and electrical infrastructure.

Russian Attacks Target Ukraine Power Grid

The Russian strikes on Ukraine’s power infrastructure represent the most extensive damage since the full-scale invasion began four years ago. Using drones and missiles, Russian forces have systematically targeted energy facilities, leaving residents in districts like Troieshchyna facing temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees Celsius. The harsh winter conditions are expected to persist in the coming weeks, compounding the humanitarian crisis.

Each time utility crews manage to restore heating or establish power outage schedules, Russian forces launch fresh strikes that force repair teams to start over. Additionally, frozen and burst water pipes have added another layer of difficulty to daily survival in affected neighborhoods.

Families Cope With Extreme Conditions

Dolotova, 37, cares for her two sons while her husband serves in the Zaporizhzhia area, one of the war’s most volatile fronts. Her 18-month-old son has seen his father only twice since birth due to the ongoing conflict. The family navigates daily challenges, including climbing six flights of stairs in complete darkness while managing a stroller that has already broken twice under the strain.

Inside their apartment, battery-powered lamps provide the only illumination as frost forms along the windows. The two brothers huddle together for warmth, playing by flashlight before bedtime. Meanwhile, their mother insulates their bed with foam rubber in an attempt to protect them from the freezing temperatures.

Energy Crisis Impacts Daily Life

The power outages have eliminated basic household functions, forcing residents to rely on community support for meals and warmth. In contrast to earlier periods of the war when power cuts followed predictable schedules, the current situation offers no certainty as repeated strikes prevent any stable restoration of services. The damage to the power grid has reached levels unprecedented in the conflict’s four-year duration.

However, residents like Dolotova find motivation in small hopes, counting down the days until their loved ones can return home on leave. She described her husband’s anticipated visit as what keeps her going through the difficult conditions, living from one leave period to the next.

Authorities have not confirmed when stable electricity might be restored to affected districts, as repair efforts remain dependent on the cessation of attacks on infrastructure. The timeline for resolution remains uncertain as winter conditions continue to intensify across the region.