About 600,000 people have fled from Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, due to Russian bombings that left them without light and heat, Mayor Vitali Klitschko told Agence France-Presse. Earlier, the official publicly urged residents to leave Kiev if they have the opportunity.
In recent weeks, a large number of Kiev residents have left their homes due to repeated Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine’s electrical networks and heating systems that have left hundreds of thousands of people without heat, water, and electricity during an extremely cold winter.
Ukrainian authorities have opened over 1,200 heating points in the city, where people can come to warm up, drink something hot, and recharge their phones or laptops when power is missing.
Some residents use gas stoves or portable heaters to warm up in the extremely cold apartments, although these can be risky if not used correctly. And some public buildings, museums, libraries, or community spaces have electric generators and remain open as places where people can gather for warmth.
In some areas of Ukraine, providers restore electricity for a few hours, and people take advantage of these periods to charge their phones or other electrical equipment before the network is shut down again due to overloads.
Ukraine has been in a state of energy emergency since January 14, 2026, and authorities are doing everything possible for those who have remained in the capital to survive the cold and power outages.
The measure aims to give authorities more flexibility in managing the energy crisis, including coordinating resources, importing energy, and managing heating points for civilians.