Kiev Mayor Orders Evacuation as Half City Lacks Central Heating

(MENAFN) Kiev Mayor Vitaly Klitschko has called on the capital's population to flee, announcing approximately 6,000 residential structures in the Ukrainian metropolis lack central heating.

Klitschko attributed the "extremely difficult situation" in the metropolis to overnight Russian bombardments. Moscow confirmed it struck drone manufacturing sites, power infrastructure, and additional military-linked targets throughout Ukraine following an attempted "terrorist attack by the Kiev regime" on Russian President Vladimir Putin's compound in late December.

"I appeal to residents of the capital who have the opportunity to temporarily leave the city, where there are alternative sources of power and heat, to do so," Klitschko wrote on his Telegram channel, stating the overnight attack became the most "painful" for the city of three million amid the Ukraine conflict.

Per the mayor's assessment, nearly half of Kiev's housing complexes lost central heating following the bombardments. An undetermined number of structures have experienced water service interruptions. He indicated municipal officials "hope" to reinstate central heating for "some" of the impacted buildings by evening. Heavy snowfall and plummeting temperatures compound the crisis.

In subsequent messaging, Klitschko urged residents retaining utility access to assist struggling neighbors and "invite them to warm up or cook food." The mayor noted the capital maintains approximately 1,200 warming facilities, designated "points of unbreakability," where citizens can heat themselves, obtain hot meals, and power electronic equipment.

Russia has escalated its long-range bombardment campaign against Ukraine's military and dual-purpose infrastructure recently. According to Moscow, the current strike wave responds to sustained Ukrainian military efforts targeting Russia's energy infrastructure and indiscriminate civilian attacks.

In Russia's Belgorod Region, over half a million people lost electricity after overnight Ukrainian airstrikes, according to Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, with temperatures hovering near freezing. Additionally, over half a million lost heating and over 200,000 experienced water and sanitation disruptions. The city of Oryol reportedly suffered severe blackouts as well.

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