January 21, 2026
Around 600,000 people leave Kyiv as Russian strikes cut power and heat
Since the start of January, around 600,000 people have left Kyiv amid power and heating outages caused by Russian attacks, Mayor Vitali Klitschko told The Times.
TL;DR
- 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.