EVACUATION: Kiev Mayor, Former Boxer Champ Klitschko Says 600,000 Have Left Cold and Dark Ukrainian Capital in January Kiev is facing a critical situation with widespread power and heating outages due to relentless Russian drone and missile strikes targeting its energy infrastructure. Mayor Klitschko has urged residents to evacuate as temperatures plummet, with a significant portion of the city’s buildings left without heating. The attacks have overwhelmed Ukrainian air defenses and reversed previous repair efforts, leading to concerns of a humanitarian catastrophe.

• Kiev Mayor Klitschko has advised citizens to “temporarily” evacuate the city.
• Russian drone and missile strikes have severely damaged Kiev’s power generation and electrical grid.
• Temperatures have fallen as low as -18C, with 5,600 apartment buildings lacking heating.
• Approximately 600,000 people have already fled the capital in January.
• The city’s centralized heating and water systems have been drained to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting.
• Recent Russian attacks on January 9 and subsequently have targeted a thermal power plant in Kiev.
• Mayor Klitschko believes the Russians aim to create a humanitarian catastrophe by causing people to freeze during winter.
• Ukrainian air defenses are strained, and restoring power, heating, and water is a significant challenge.