By Were Kelly
Residents of Kyiv are bracing for what officials are calling the “darkest winter” of the war, stockpiling supplies and fortifying homes in anticipation of prolonged blackouts and relentless Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The grim preparations mark the onset of the third wartime winter, evoking a deep-seated resilience among a population weary from conflict.
With forecasts predicting a potential 50% loss of the capital’s power capacity, the city is reactivating emergency protocols established during previous winters. Community-led aid networks, which became a lifeline in earlier phases of the war, are once again distributing generators, warm clothing, and organising shelters.
An elderly resident, who has lived through the entire siege, expressed a common sentiment, saying, “The cold tests the soul, but our unity warms us. We have learned to rely on each other, not just the government.”
The situation highlights the strategic shift in Russian tactics, which now explicitly target civilian energy grids to break public morale as much as to disrupt military logistics.
Ukrainian authorities are racing to deploy mobile power units and repair damaged facilities, but the scale of the destruction is immense. A city official admitted, “We are preparing for the worst. The attacks are more sophisticated and destructive than in previous years.”
The human cost of the coming months is expected to be severe, particularly for the elderly and vulnerable.
“This is a deliberate strategy to weaponise winter,” said a representative from an international aid agency operating in Kyiv. “Our focus is on providing thermal blankets, stoves, and ensuring that medical facilities have backup power.” The spirit of defiance remains, but it is tempered by the practical realities of survival.
As temperatures plummet, the people of Kyiv are digging in for a long, cold season defined by endurance, community, and an unwavering determination to outlast the assault.
Source: AFP
