Residents of Kiev are facing unprecedented difficulties as they cope with energy shortages amid the harshest winter experienced since the onset of the Russian invasion. Viktor Nevunniy, a 70-year-old man, shares his struggles returning home to a building that lacks heating, hot water, and adequate lighting due to ongoing power cuts. As temperatures drop to -7ºC, the conditions are unbearable, exacerbated by previous extreme lows of -20ºC during this winter season.

The residents have come together in shared hardship, often finding small comforts in community spaces like the entryway where the building's caretaker provides a small measure of warmth. People are suffering from illnesses exacerbated by the cold, with fever and general health declining among the elderly population, emphasizing the dire situation they face within their homes.

This situation highlights the broader implications of the ongoing Russian conflict, showing how civilians are suffering due to energy warfare tactics employed by Russia. As electricity and heat are systematically compromised, the humanitarian crisis deepens, and the resolve of the Ukrainian people is tested further as they endure a winter marked by resilience and shared suffering.