Efforts to mitigate the consequences of a massive Russian strike continue in Kyiv and the surrounding region. President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the death toll in the capital has reached four, including an emergency medical worker.

According to the President, the enemy employed a cynical "double-tap" tactic. One missile struck a residential building just as emergency services were treating victims of the initial attack. In total, 20 residential buildings were damaged, and dozens of people were injured. Restoration efforts are also underway in the Lviv region and other parts of the country.

The President disclosed details regarding the munitions used by Russia overnight. The enemy launched 242 drones, 22 cruise missiles, and 13 ballistic missiles, specifically targeting energy facilities and civilian infrastructure. Additionally, the launch of an "Oreshnik" intermediate-range ballistic missile was recorded.

"The attack came exactly as temperatures dropped significantly. It is an attack against the everyday lives of ordinary people," Zelensky emphasized.

The President also highlighted an international dimension of the strike: a Russian drone damaged the Qatari Embassy. This occurred despite Qatar's role as a key mediator in negotiations with Russia for the release of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian hostages.

Zelensky announced a meeting of the Energy Staff to determine timelines for restoring heating and electricity. He also called for a decisive global response, particularly from the United States, stressing the urgent need to bolster air defenses.

"Russia must receive signals that it is its duty to focus on diplomacy—and it must feel the consequences every time it chooses to focus on killing and destroying infrastructure," the President concluded.

Meanwhile, half of Kyiv has been left without heating, and a third of the city is without water. These disruptions are a direct consequence of the Russian attack on the city on January 9. Massive power outages caused by enemy strikes halted the operation of pumping stations. The situation is so severe that Kyiv residents are being asked to temporarily leave the city if possible. The shelling of the capital occurred amid a severe cold snap; to prevent a total collapse, technical water is already being drained from heating systems. Notably, backup power sources for Kyiv were reportedly procured with a delay.

The status of water and heat supplies was reported by "Kyivvodokanal," "Kyivteploenergo," and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

According to specialists at "Kyivvodokanal," infrastructure facilities were de-energized due to the enemy shelling. Water supply has been cut off in the Pechersk district and on the city's Left Bank.

"Kyivvodokanal specialists, together with power engineers, are working to stabilize the situation, restore power supply, and return the water system to normal operation," the statement said. However, water issues are being recorded not only in the Darnytsia, Pechersk, Dniprovskyi, and Desnianskyi districts but also in the Solomianskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts, where network pressure has dropped. Kyivvodokanal explained that the de-energization of infrastructure led to the temporary shutdown of pumping equipment.

Oleh Popenko, head of the Union of Public Utility Consumers, noted that backup power sources in Kyiv were purchased too late—in October 2025.

"I continue to ask why the Kyiv City Council decided to purchase backup power sources for Kyivvodokanal as late as October 2025? The situation with the gas piston units purchased for Kyivteploenergo back in 2024, which still haven't been installed, suggests a similar fate for the water utility. We are expecting a deep freeze, and since pumping stations support both water and heat supply, the threat of homes freezing without heating is more than serious," he posted on Facebook.

The Heating Situation

In addition to water shortages, Kyiv is facing significant heating issues. "Kyivteploenergo" reported that strikes on critical infrastructure have caused problems with heating and hot water in several districts. Heating is either absent or being supplied at reduced levels in the Desnianskyi and Pechersk districts, as well as parts of the Holosiivskyi, Darnytsia, Dniprovskyi, Obolonskyi, Podilskyi, Solomianskyi, and Shevchenkivskyi districts.

Notably, just a day earlier, the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA) claimed that utility services were working in "enhanced mode" to ensure heat supply, including:

  • Developing response algorithms for outages;

  • Issuing recommendations to housing organizations;

  • Preparing 69 mobile boiler houses.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed the global scale of the heating crisis, stating that the problem has affected half of the capital's apartment buildings. This time, the situation is exceptionally grave.

"Half of Kyiv's apartment buildings—nearly 6,000—are without heating due to critical infrastructure damaged by the enemy's massive attack. The city is also experiencing water supply disruptions," he reported.

Utility services have already powered social facilities, including hospitals and maternity wards, using mobile boiler houses. Together with energy crews, they are working to restore electricity and heat to residential buildings.

While city authorities claim to be doing everything possible to stabilize the situation, the overnight combined attack caused severe damage. All city services are operating in emergency mode. Meanwhile, meteorologists forecast that weather conditions will remain difficult in the coming days. Consequently, Kyiv residents who have the option are urged to temporarily relocate outside the city to areas with alternative heat and power sources.

Amid the freezing temperatures, social media discussions have surfaced regarding the emergency protocols for a prolonged heating failure. Media personality Lesya Padalka, citing internal district chats, wrote about the draining of water from residential heating systems in the Desnianskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Pechersk districts. Some of her followers have already confirmed that the draining process has allegedly begun.

Member of Parliament and former Minister of Housing and Communal Services Oleksiy Kucherenko also confirmed the draining of systems. He noted receiving data that utility workers in "many districts of Kyiv" have already received the corresponding orders.

"We are waiting for clear information from the KCSA with recommendations for the population’s next steps," he wrote.

Furthermore, electric public transport has been suspended on Kyiv's Left Bank due to the strikes. On the Right Bank, trolleys and trams are facing delays both due to power outages and fallen tree branches caused by freezing rain.