More than one million Ukrainians are facing a desperate winter, left without heating, electricity, and running water following a sustained Russian assault on the country's energy infrastructure. With temperatures plunging as low as -15°C in some regions, vulnerable residents describe a life of cold, darkness, and deepening depression.
A Nation Plunged into Darkness and Cold
The crisis escalated on Thursday, 9 January 2026, when hundreds of thousands were left without power across central and southeastern regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia. The situation worsened on Friday after an attack on Kyiv left 500,000 people without electricity, prompting mayor Vitali Klitschko to urge temporary evacuations as a bitter cold snap tightened its grip.
For 33-year-old Dnipro resident Kyril Tulenev, the constant blackouts are psychologically crushing. "It gives you depression," he explains. "You cannot do anything. You cannot check the news. You cannot properly use your things. Sometimes you cannot call anyone because there is no connection."
Daily Life Grinds to a Halt
Beyond the homes, public life has frozen. Petrol stations have iced over, streets stand empty, and traffic lights have ceased to function. The strain is particularly acute for families caring for elderly or disabled relatives. Kyril describes the plight of his girlfriend's family, who live in an old, cracked house. They must care for an uncle with disabilities and an elderly grandfather, tasks made nearly impossible without running water or light.
"The uncle cannot move by himself, so they need to take care of him," Kyril says. "They need to bring him to the toilet. They need to do the bath for him. When there is no electricity, you don't have water, and it's kind of difficult for them." The lack of power also means no refrigeration for food and no way to cook with electric ovens.
Frontline Towns Bear the Brunt
The city of Kryvyi Rih has become a stark example of the suffering. An early evening missile strike on Thursday killed one person and injured 24, including six children, before plunging the city into darkness. This attack came just hours after a massive overnight assault had caused widespread blackouts across the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Olena Yanchenko, a 54-year-old grandmother and school teacher, was nearby during the strike. "It’s really scary," she says of the moments the power fails during an air raid. "Every time I feel like it’s my last day of life." She describes the city as still without electricity and heating on Friday, with temperatures at -3°C, raising concerns about children returning to cold, unheated schools.
For the elderly, the situation is especially perilous. An 84-year-old bedridden resident of Kryvyi Rih, Dragan Mikhail Petrovich, speaks of "anxiety, fear and exhaustion." He states, "The boiler that heats our home almost does not work without electricity. It is cold in the house. Protecting yourself from the cold in such situations is quite difficult. These actions are criminal and inhuman."
Amid the despair, local organisations are providing critical support. Groups like Rozvitok Mista in Kryvyi Rih are visiting vulnerable, isolated people, while Hope for Ukraine is distributing solar-powered kits in blackout zones to build long-term resilience. As Olena Yanchenko puts it, summing up the national resolve: "We do everything which we can. But it’s really hard... Any way [we can], we are going to stay alive. The Ukrainian people are brave."
