Russian strikes push Kyiv into survival mode as power and water cuts hit the capital

Survival mode before winter

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko told AFP on Thursday that a wave of Russian strikes over recent weeks has pushed the Ukrainian capital into survival mode ahead of winter. Russia has expanded its strikes on Kyiv, hitting key bridges and the city centre in daytime drone attacks, and has resumed strikes on the energy grid. The power cuts repeat attacks that last winter knocked out heating and power for days, when temperatures hit -20C. Three people were killed in the capital during attacks on Thursday, AFP reported.

Every day brings new reports of destroyed buildings, of people injured or tragically killed, as the shelling of our city intensifies.

He added that "Today the issue is survival."

Power, water and transport

Ukrenergo, the national grid operator, ordered emergency power cuts in Kyiv and several districts of the neighbouring region on Thursday morning, according to Mediafax. The network briefly returned to a schedule of planned outages before fresh Russian attacks brought the emergency cuts back. Hours after the AFP interview, Kyiv city authorities announced that metro circulation and escalators had been suspended because of a voltage drop at external power centres, and trams and trolleybuses stood still. Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal said the failure followed the fall of "one of Kyiv's vital energy installations." Lower pressure in the main water networks has left many homes without running water. Parts of the capital were also without water for several hours on Tuesday, according to France 24.

Bridges and river crossings

Russia struck the bridges over the Dnipro in Kyiv for the first time since its invasion began in 2022, according to AFP, disrupting daily travel for people who live or work on both banks. France 24 reports that the main bridges have been hit repeatedly, forcing traffic to be suspended across the city. The city is developing alternative pontoon crossings to ease the gridlock, the mayor said.

The connection between the left and right banks is one of the key factors in the city's ability to function.

Preparing for winter and advice to residents

The city is installing backup heating systems and stockpiling fuel, food and drinking water for possible disruptions this winter. Klitschko said he would not call for a full evacuation of the capital, but suggested that people who can move temporarily to relatives or friends outside Kyiv consider doing so. He warned that serious damage to water infrastructure could trigger a crisis of considerable scale. He also argued that mass departures would serve the Kremlin, saying the best scenario for Putin would be for everyone to leave and hand over empty cities.

No matter how well we prepare, if air defence does not work, we could end up in a bad scenario.

Reactions from Kyiv and abroad

British diplomacy chief Ed Miliband, speaking in Ukraine on Thursday, said Putin is trying to win by "terrorising civilians." He spoke beside rubble in Prilyuky, where a Russian missile hit a residential block on Wednesday and killed 28 people, including five children, according to Libertatea. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian authorities are preparing responses to the attacks. He thanked the European Union for 1.2 billion euros in defence support, asked for more military aid, and spoke with António Costa about the attacks. Zelensky said he will meet Costa and Ursula von der Leyen soon. Russian attacks over recent days have killed 78 people and wounded more than 200 across the country, according to Observador.