Much of Kiev remains in the dark.
‘Hello, Darkness, my old friend.’
We have reported multiple times on the relentless combined air campaign by Russian forces that is targeting Ukraine’s power plants and energy grid, and leaving swaths of the population in the cold and dark during a grueling winter.
But now, we’ve come to the point where Kiev’s CHPP-5 (combined heat and power plant) and CHPP-6 can’t even be fully restored after a massive ballistic missile strike before the next one hits.
Lights have been out in much of Kiev and many other large cities, and there isn’t much room for improvement.
Simplicius on Substack:
“One of the most noteworthy aspects of the last strike on Kiev was the notable absence of any major air defense action. Video footage of only one ‘Patriot’ missile launching and self-destructing in the sky soon after emerged, but beyond this, Ukrainian defenses over Kiev appeared dismal compared to previous strikes, signifying a likely exhaustion of resources.”
Blackout hits Ukraine’s capital amid damage to energy facilities
Kiev’s left bank has been left without electricity, with emergency power schedules introduced across the city. Electric transport and the subway are not operating. pic.twitter.com/WvhZuNob0t
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) January 9, 2026
The Guardian reported:
“Engineers in Kyiv scrambled on Saturday to stabilize a power grid brought to the brink by a campaign of Russian strikes, including one two nights ago. The city’s residents huddled against bitter winter cold inside their unheated apartments on Saturday as engineers worked to restore power, water and heat. Prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the power situation in the capital was still difficult, as the grid was badly damaged and people were using more electric heaters because of the cold.”
But the damage is not limited to Kiev.
Slavyangrad on Telegram:
“’Iskanders’ [missiles] and ‘Geranis’ [drones] cut off the power in several regions of Ukraine.
Energy facilities were damaged in Krivoy Rog, and explosions were heard at the ‘Nova Pochta’ terminal in Kharkov.
In Odessa, there was a fire at the airport, and military facilities in the port were also hit.
In the Kiev region, Gostomel, Bucha and Irpin were completely without power — an ‘Iskander’ targeted one of the regional thermal power stations. In Zaporozhye, severe voltage surges were recorded.”
It’s a freezing morning in Ukraine with extreme cold temperatures below -15°C. And this is exactly why Russia attacked Ukraine overnight using over 300 drones, 18 ballistic and 7 cruise missiles, targeting energy to deprive people of power, water, and heating.
Russia is… pic.twitter.com/VJGo42hEno
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) January 13, 2026
Read more:
Kiev Mayor, Former Boxer Klitschko Urges Residents of Ukraine’s Capital To Leave the City as Half the Buildings Have No Power or Heating
The post Ukraine Braves Grueling Winter in the Cold and Dark, as Relentless Russian Strikes Take Power Generation and Energy Grid to the Brink appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.