Olena Janchuk, a former kindergarten teacher with severe rheumatoid arthritis, is enduring the harsh winter conditions in her highrise apartment in Kyiv. She has been confined to her 19th-floor apartment for weeks due to the ongoing power outages caused by Russia’s attacks on power infrastructure.
With temperatures dropping to -10°C in January, Janchuk has resorted to using a makeshift fireplace made of candles and bricks to stay warm. The lack of electricity has forced her to rely on power banks and USB charging cables to keep essential devices running. Her living conditions have become challenging, with the apartment rapidly cooling off at night without central heating.
Residents in Kyiv, a city of about three million people, are facing similar struggles as power outages have become a regular occurrence. Daily life revolves around electricity schedules, from cooking and showering to charging phones and running appliances. Basic necessities like food and water are carefully managed, and small gas burners are used for cooking during blackouts.
The situation is particularly difficult for residents living in highrise buildings, where climbing stairs in darkness during blackouts is a common occurrence. Many buildings lack generators, leaving residents to navigate the challenges of daily life without consistent access to electricity. Disability advocates are calling for city officials to provide generators for residential buildings to alleviate the hardship faced by vulnerable residents.
The damage inflicted on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure by Russian attacks has been extensive, leading to widespread power outages and disruptions. Repair efforts are ongoing, but the restoration of electricity services remains a distant prospect for many residents. Despite the challenges, residents like Janchuk and her family remain resilient, determined to endure the hardships until the conflict comes to an end.