Ukraine endures its bitterest winter as Russia targets heating and power

Reuters ^ | January 21, 2026 | Olena Harmash and Anna Voitenko

[MinorityRepublican]

Collecting snow for water at home; sleeping in gloves, coats and hats; heating bricks on gas stoves for warmth; erecting tents indoors - Kyiv residents are doing everything they can to survive the coldest, darkest winter of the war.

"When there is no electricity, there is no heating: it means the apartment freezes," said ​Anton Rybikov, father of three-year-old David and two-year-old Matvii, speaking to Reuters in their home, where he and his wife Marina have stocked up on backup batteries and sleeping bags.

The 39-year-old military ‌chaplain said one of his sons recently contracted pneumonia after temperatures in the apartment fell to 9 degrees Celsius (48 Fahrenheit) during a power blackout of more than 19 hours following Russian airstrikes.

"It's emotionally very difficult. There is constant worry," Rybikov added, as he prepared to ‌heat water in a metal milk churn. "This winter is the hardest."

Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure in recent months, concentrating missile and drone strikes on the cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv and Dnipro.

British military intelligence estimated that Russia launched 55,000 unmanned aerial systems at Ukraine last year, around five times the number in 2024, according to one of its regular reports on the war posted on X.

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TOPICS: Ukraine
KEYWORDS: botched2022treaty; gettingblitzed; globalwarming; itistolaugh; ukenazis; vindmanclonesonfr; zeepharderforvictory; zelenskysfault

[iamgalt]

Little Zeke could have ended this madness a year ago.

[rxh4n1]

All the money and weapons we gave them, why aren’t they counterattacking? We’ve been told repeatedly that Ukraine got back 25% of the land Russia stole. Why not get the rest back?

[delta7]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG4USzxtuLU

Massive Strike💥 Air Defense Forces Running Low⚡️⚠️ Kharkiv Offensive🗺️➡️ Military Summary 2026.01.20

....the missile and drone attacks have been intensifying for better more than a year,....so much for Russia running out of ammo, money and missiles.They play the long game.

[ProgressingAmerica]

Why can’t we have global warming when we need it?

[PGR88]

...to the last Ukrainian

[fireman15]

Why can’t we have global warming when we need it?

You don't seem to understand... global warming causes global cooling.

[Benjamin Campbell]

Are you serious? Most part of the allocated money has been stolen by Ukrainian corrupt politicians. Just read the news about corruption scandals in Ukraine for the last two years. Ukraine’s soldiers got much less support than you think.

[Petrosius]

You mean that Zelensky could have surrendered a year ago. I am sorry that Ukrainian independence inconveniences you.

[Jan_Sobieski]

War is indeed hell.

[blitz128]

Little pitin could never have started this. Funny how that option is never discussed by the usuals here on FR

[blitz128]

To the last Russian and end of the Russian federation as we know it.

[blitz128]

Well then pitin should be in Kyiv by now, if all the “reporting” you cite is correct😎

[delta7]

The war started in 2014 when the Ukrainian Neo Nazis started bombing Donetsk and Lughansk.....funded and supported by Nuland and McCain. They were receiving $ millions iway back then.

It was a Ukrainian Civil War until the Neo Cons stepped in....and here we are today.

[mac_truck]

I am sorry that Ukrainian independence inconveniences you.

Ukraine was independent in 2013, before the West stuck its nose in (and got it bloodied).

[Petrosius]

Ukraine is still independent. If you have not noticed, they are not surrendering to Trump anymore than they are to Putin. It is their desire for independence that is driving their resistance to Russia. They are not pawns of the West.

[Petrosius]

You have your timeline a little wrong. This started when Russia used local militants from the ethnic Russian minority in Donbas to seize the territory. Nor was there any bombing of the civilian population. This has been a Russian invasion from the beginning.

[TexasGator]

The war started in 2014 when the Russian Neo Nazis started bombing Donetsk and Lughansk.

[Chad_the_Impaler]

"When there is no electricity, there is no heating: it means the apartment freezes,"

70-80% of Ukrainian households have gas-based heating (district and individual gas boilers). Electric heating is used by 10-15% of households. The remainder of households, mostly in rural areas, use solid fuel or mixed systems.

[hal ogen]

I wonder if the heating systems are working in all of the mansions around the world owned by zelinski and his various buddy oligarchs? You wouldn’t want them and their families to be uncomfortable.