Kyiv reports zero deaths from cold during energy crisis — but there's a catch

Kyiv reports zero deaths from cold during energy crisis — but there's a catch by Polina Moroziuk March 8, 2026 9:22 AM 5 min read A temporary heating and aid point tent is seen set up outdoors in Kyiv on Feb. 16, 2026. (Mykhaylo Palinchak/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) War by Polina Moroziuk Zero deaths linked to winter power or heating outages have been officially recorded in Kyiv, city authorities have said, despite months of severe cold caused by repeated Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure. As Ukraine emerges from winter , President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 1 that Russia launched more than 14,600 guided aerial bombs, 738 missiles, and nearly 19,000 attack drones over the three winter months. "But despite everything, Ukrainians made it through this difficult winter," Zelensky said . Since October 2025, repeated Russian strikes have placed an extraordinary strain on Kyiv's power system . At their worst, temperatures in the capital dropped to -25°C (-13°F), with heating outages lasting days at a time, leaving thousands of residents in freezing apartments. Ukrainian energy officials warned throughout the winter that continued attacks risked triggering a humanitarian catastrophe. Become a member – go ad‑free During the winter, rumors circulated online suggesting that cold indoor conditions may have contributed to several deaths in the capital. Among the cases that drew attention were the deaths of an 82-year-old Pavlo Loiko and another 88-year-old woman in Kyiv's Podil district. In both instances, city and regional authorities said forensic examinations determined the cause of death to be chronic cardiovascular disease rather than hypothermia. In a written response to questions from the Kyiv Independent, the Kyiv City State Administration stated that it has no official data linking any deaths in the capital to cold caused by prolonged heating or electricity outages. "As of today, no such cases have been recorded in the reporting data...