Kyiv's elderly endure blackouts and bombardment, clinging to warmth and hope

"The left bank of the Dnieper River has been very hard hit by Russian strikes, leaving most people in the dark for days on end. Their houses are without warmth and without electricity, and the old people try to heat themselves by wearing more clothes and turning on the gas of their stoves. They suffer a lot."

"As Russian President Vladimir Putin fails to make significant progress on the battlefield, he is trying to break the Ukrainian people's will by plunging them into the cold and dark in one of the coldest winters in years. The capital, Kyiv, has been particularly hard hit."

Russia's systematic destruction of Ukraine's energy infrastructure has created a humanitarian crisis in Kyiv, particularly affecting elderly residents unable to evacuate. With frequent power and heating cuts during one of the coldest winters in years, older adults remain trapped in unheated apartments, relying on multiple layers of clothing and dangerous heating methods like gas stoves. Aid organizations like Starenki deliver food packages and companionship to vulnerable populations, including 88-year-old Liliya Lapina, who survives in her 10th-floor apartment by staying bundled under blankets near windows. While Kyiv's mayor urged those able to leave, many elderly residents have no alternative housing options and must endure the harsh conditions as part of Russia's strategy to break Ukrainian civilian morale.

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