KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported Wednesday that approximately 4,000 buildings in Kyiv remain without heating and nearly 60% of the capital faces power outages following sustained Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. The crisis emerges during one of the most severe winters in recent years, with temperatures plunging to -20°C (-4°F), exacerbating humanitarian challenges nearly four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion.
While the physical conflict intensifies, diplomatic efforts continue behind the scenes. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed plans to discuss peace proposals with Russian President Vladimir Putin and engage with Ukrainian delegates. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Witkoff emphasized the urgent need for peace, though discussions on Ukraine’s defense appeared overshadowed by other transatlantic issues.
Ukrainian authorities are implementing emergency measures to address the energy crisis. The Cabinet of Ministers has allocated 2.56 billion hryvnias (approximately $60 million) from reserve funds to purchase generators, according to Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte issued a compelling appeal to the alliance’s military chiefs, urging them to leverage their influence with national governments to supply critically needed air defense systems to Ukraine. “Please use your influence to help your political masters to do even more,” Rutte stated in a video message from NATO’s Brussels headquarters. “Look deep into your stockpiles to see what more you can give to Ukraine, particularly air defense interceptors. The time really is now.”
The military situation remains volatile. Overnight, Russia launched 97 drones and a ballistic missile at Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian air force. Attacks in the central Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in the deaths of a 77-year-old man and a 72-year-old woman, confirmed Oleksandr Hanzha, head of the regional military administration.
Russia’s Defense Ministry reported intercepting 75 Ukrainian drones over several regions, while the international airports of Krasnodar, Sochi, Gelendzhik and Saratov temporarily suspended operations due to drone activity. In Adygea, more than 200 kilometers from the Ukrainian border, a Ukrainian drone strike caused an apartment building fire that injured 11 people, including two children, according to regional governor Murat Kumpilov.