Kyiv struggles with power, heat outages as President Zelenskyy demands 'additional measures'

ISTANBUL

Ukrainian officials reported that thousands of residential buildings in Kyiv remain without heat, and nearly 60% of the capital lacks electricity following recent Russian airstrikes on energy infrastructure.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on Telegram that "slightly less than 3,000 high-rise buildings" in the capital remained without heat supply as of Thursday morning.

"Last night, heat was connected to 227 houses. This was done for the second time after infrastructure damage by enemy attacks on January 9 and 20," Klitschko noted, adding that utility crews are working around the clock.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that he disagrees with assessments from local authorities that resources involved in efforts to resolve electricity and heating issues in the capital "are sufficient, but time is needed."

"I do not agree with this assessment – additional measures and additional resources are needed," Zelenskyy said on Telegram following an energy coordination meeting.

A state of emergency was announced by Ukraine in its energy sector last week due to extreme weather conditions and Russian strikes, notably on Jan. 9, when much of Kyiv was left without power.

Klitschko had said earlier this week that 16 out of 6,000 buildings that lost access to heating after the Jan. 9 attack were still without heating as of Monday evening.

Renewed strikes overnight resulted in over 5,600 high-rise buildings losing access to heating, according to the mayor on Tuesday.

- Denmark pledges energy support

Amid the ongoing outages, Ukrainian Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal announced a new aid package from Copenhagen to bolster Ukraine's battered energy grid.

"Denmark will provide DKK 150 million (€20 million) in additional support to Ukraine’s energy sector," Shmyhal said on US social media company X, thanking Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen for the "steadfast support."

Shmyhal detailed that the funds would be directed toward the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, equipment protection via the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and emergency assistance partners.

In a separate statement on Telegram regarding the Emergency Situations Response Headquarters, Shmyhal noted that while the energy system remains "extremely tense," technicians are developing solutions to transition from emergency blackouts to "strict, but predictable schedules" in the coming days.

Russian forces have intensified missile and drone strikes on Ukraine's energy generation and distribution facilities during the winter, causing widespread blackouts and heating disruptions across major cities.

Kyiv and its allies continue to seek additional air defense systems to protect critical infrastructure from further damage.