Around 600,000 people leave Kyiv as Russian strikes cut power and heat Approximately 600,000 people have left Kyiv since January due to power and heating outages caused by Russian attacks. These outages have led to a public dispute between Mayor Vitali Klitschko and President Volodymyr Zelensky, with each blaming the other’s administration for inadequate preparation and response. The attacks on critical infrastructure are believed to be an attempt by Russia to make the city uninhabitable and pressure Ukraine into concessions.

• Around 600,000 people have left Kyiv since January due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure.
• These attacks have caused widespread power and heating outages, impacting thousands of apartment buildings.
• A political dispute has emerged between Mayor Vitali Klitschko and President Volodymyr Zelensky over the city administration’s response.
• Central government officials accuse Kyiv’s administration of failing to protect energy facilities and secure backup systems.
• Klitschko’s allies argue that protecting major power sites requires national-level decisions and resources.
• The broader goal of the Russian attacks is believed to be making Kyiv unlivable and pressuring Ukraine into peace talks.
• Despite hardships, there are no signs of a shift in public mood toward surrender.