politics
January 17, 2026
Kiev mayor urges residents to leave city
Kiev has faced electricity and heating shortages following Russian strikes, prompting the mayor to urge some residents to leave
TL;DR
- Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko advised residents to leave the city if possible due to a severe electricity and heating crisis.
- Freezing temperatures have gripped the Ukrainian capital, straining infrastructure.
- Russian strikes on energy infrastructure are cited as the cause of the shortages.
- Households have experienced electricity outages for up to 20 hours daily, and heating has been cut to about 6,000 apartment buildings.
- Overnight temperatures have fallen to around minus 17 degrees Celsius.
- Critics argue the mayor's appeal reflects a lack of preparedness and that many residents have no alternative relocation options.
- President Zelensky criticized Kyiv's response to the energy crisis, stating "little was done in the capital."
- Klitschko rejected Zelensky's criticism, describing it as "total hatred" and insisting city services are working to restore power and heating.