Kyiv Mayor Urges Residents to Temporarily Evacuate Amid Power and Heat Crisis

The mayor of Ukraine’s capital has called on residents of Kyiv to leave the city temporarily if possible, as severe damage to critical energy infrastructure following Russian attacks has left large parts of the city without power and heating. 

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, appealed to residents through his official channels, asking those who have the means to relocate for a short period to places with alternative sources of electricity and heat. This comes after extensive Russian strikes damaged the city’s power grid and heating systems during freezing winter temperatures, leaving many homes without essential utilities. 

In his message, Klitschko noted that city services are operating under emergency conditions and that efforts are underway to restore electricity and heating. Mobile boiler systems have been deployed to keep critical facilities such as hospitals and maternity wards operational, but with temperatures dropping, the humanitarian strain remains acute. 

The widespread infrastructure damage has also disrupted water supplies in some districts, compounding the hardships faced by roughly three million residents. With forecasts calling for continued cold weather, the mayor emphasized that evacuating temporarily could reduce the risks to vulnerable populations, particularly the elderly and families with young children. 

Officials reported that the latest barrage of missiles and drones was among the most damaging to the city’s energy network this winter, highlighting the growing toll on civilian infrastructure as the conflict continues.