For weeks, many residents of Kiev have been living without heating and electricity. Due to Russian attacks, more than 1,100 multi-storey residential buildings are without power. How is it possible to live like this with temperatures falling even below -20 degrees?
After another Russian air strike on the night of February 3, 1,170 multi-storey residential buildings in the Ukrainian capital were left without heating - at extremely low temperatures outside, falling even below minus 20 degrees.
As a result of Russian strikes on critical infrastructure, many blocks have been without heating and electricity for weeks. Some households in Kiev do not even have water.
The mayor of the Ukrainian capital, Vitali Klitschko, assures that employees of municipal enterprises and energy supply companies are working around the clock to repair the damage and restore the water, electricity and heat supply.
How to live without heating
Sviatoslava lives in the Solomensky district of Kiev - in one of the blocks of flats, which has had no heating for two weeks. She tells DW that she fights the cold by bringing pots of boiling water into the bedroom. At night, she tucks into a sleeping bag with her clothes on, and during the day she spends a lot of time in the kitchen. "The gas stove is constantly burning, but I have to ventilate it regularly so I don't suffocate", says the Kiev resident.
The residents of the block are pleased that the municipal utilities managed to drain the water from the heating system in time to prevent the pipes from bursting. One of the plumbers advised the residents to run hot water in the toilets from time to time to prevent the sewer pipes from freezing.
People are determined to endure
In Troyeshchyna - one of the residential areas of Kiev most affected by the Russian attacks - army tents have been set up and so-called "invincibility points" have been organized. The tents are warm, with tea and electricity from generators that can charge mobile phones.
An elderly woman comes out of her cold apartment and complains that the street is icy: "If they don't have time to clear the snow, they could at least sprinkle some sand." Her apartment has electricity for only six to eight hours a day, and the heating doesn't work. "It's impossible to stay warm in the apartment. But it's good that we have gas - so we can cook and at least warm up the kitchen a little," she says.
Her neighbor Valery says he heats bricks on a gas stove because he can't leave the stove on for long. "It gives you a headache," he explains. Valery powers his apartment with a solar panel mounted on his balcony and portable batteries that he charges at a nearby supermarket. It also supplies drinking water when the water supply is cut off.
Despite the difficulties and high food prices, people do not believe that Ukraine's capitulation is a solution. "Of course, there are those who would agree with this, but most people understand that we have to endure. We do not want to live together with the Russians," says Valery.
Residents take the initiative
Tetyana is a house manager in an apartment building and is determined to do something about the inaction of the responsible utility companies. She has taken measurements and claims that the temperature of the pipes supplying heat to the building has been recorded at 65 degrees Celsius. However, the radiators in the apartments are either cool or ice cold. "We contacted the supplier, who sent plumbers from a private company. But before they could do anything, their foreman came running, cursed them and dragged them somewhere else," the woman says.
She then set about insulating the pipes in the basement together with her neighbors. "Not all of them are wrapped with mineral wool, so people brought old blankets and other warm materials with which we wrap the exposed parts of the pipes. Then we will check the ceiling, it is possible that we will have to insulate some places there too," says Tetyana.
According to the data of the municipal administration, there are so-called "invincibility points" in all districts. Irina works in one of them, located in a school building. She is a Red Cross volunteer. She says that few people come during the day, more gather in the evening: "Here people can warm up, get hot drinks and something to eat. A social worker takes applications and we help them according to their needs," says Irina.
Students' in-person learning continues
Lyudmila Vakulenko, the school’s deputy director, is coordinating by phone the connection of the school building to a mobile heating system. It was recently installed by employees of the municipal utility company.
Vakulenko says that the school has provided three classrooms to a nearby kindergarten, which is currently unheated. In addition, about 20 workers from the municipal utility company are accommodated on the first floor of the school. They have come from other cities to help in Kiev.
Despite the difficulties, the educational process at the school continues, the deputy director emphasizes. "Children returned to in-person classes on February 2 after the holidays. We have enough teachers, the educational process continues. We must take care of our children’s education."