Kyiv: The Ukrainian capital Kyiv is facing severe disruptions to electricity, water and heating after fresh Russian attacks damaged key energy infrastructure, forcing emergency shutdowns at a time of intense winter cold.

City authorities said parts of Kyiv were left without power on Friday as repair teams worked to stabilise the grid. Because electricity is essential for pumping water and running district heating systems, the outages quickly led to cuts in water supply and heating across several neighbourhoods.

Temperatures in the city have fallen well below freezing, with night time readings dropping to around minus ten degrees Celsius. The cold has made daily life difficult for thousands of families, especially older people and children living in high rise apartment buildings that rely on central heating.

Officials said some heating systems were deliberately switched off and drained to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting while repairs are carried out. Public transport was also disrupted, with electric trams and trolleybuses suspended in affected areas and replaced where possible by diesel buses.

The damage follows a wave of missile and drone strikes by Russia that targeted Ukraine’s energy network. Ukrainian officials say the attacks are aimed at weakening civilian morale by cutting basic services during the harsh winter months.

In response, Kyiv authorities have opened hundreds of heated shelters known as warming centres, where residents can stay warm, charge phones and receive basic assistance. People have also been urged to check on vulnerable neighbours and to conserve electricity when it is available.

The energy ministry said repair crews are working around the clock but warned that further emergency power cuts may be needed if attacks continue or demand rises sharply during the cold spell.

Across Ukraine, other regions have also reported blackouts and heating problems, highlighting the ongoing strain on the country’s energy system as winter deepens and the war continues.