Lagerfeuer, Tanz, Haustiere: Wie es den Ukrainern im härtesten Winter seit Jahren warm bleibt

Authorities in Kyiv and elsewhere across the country have been operating hundreds of “invincibility points” where local people can get warm, charge their devices and work. Zelensky said on Wednesday that more of these would open.

Iryna Palandina, who came to one of the help points in Kyiv on Thursday, told CNN she had no electricity, no water supply and no way to cook food at home.

“We came to drink tea because I don’t even have anything to heat water with,” she said. “After the last attack, it became so difficult. Before that, we were more or less (managing). I always thought that our family was prepared, we have an inverter, uninterruptible power supplies, batteries… but when there is only two hours of electricity a day, they just run out of power and don’t have time to recharge,” she added.

On social media, Kyiv residents who have more hours of light are actively offering their help to those who don’t. And in some residential complexes during blackouts, neighbors gather in the courtyards to cook food together on a bonfire and socialize. Videos are spreading on social media showing people grilling meat, drinking hot beverages and dancing to keep warm.

Russia has consistently denied striking civilian infrastructure, despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) released data on Thursday, showing that there have been at least 256 Russian airstrikes on energy facilities and heat supply systems across Ukraine since the beginning of the heating season in October.

It said the figures show that the strikes are “aimed at destroying the Ukrainian people and constitute crimes against humanity.”