Blackout
The National Bank of Ukraine has lowered its GDP growth forecast for 2026 to 1. 8% due to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and electricity shortages. The electricity deficit in 2026 will be at least 6%, which will cost Ukraine 0.4% of GDP growth.
The European Commission is providing Ukraine with 145 million euros in humanitarian aid and Moldova with 8 million euros to support Ukrainian refugees. Millions of Ukrainians are facing freezing temperatures without electricity due to Russian bombardments.
Information has appeared online about Russia's alleged ban on strikes against energy infrastructure, but there is no official confirmation. Journalist Denys Kazansky links this to Russia's depletion of missile stockpiles.
Since the beginning of the year, over 1,200 fires have been recorded due to faulty electrical wiring and appliances. The State Emergency Service urges people not to use damaged appliances and to observe safety rules.
Due to Russian shelling, consumers in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions are without electricity. Temporary schedules are being applied in Kyiv, and emergency blackouts in the Kyiv region. Over 500 settlements in 7 regions are without power due to bad weather.
Kyivvodokanal refuted information about the freezing of sewage networks in Troieshchyna. The networks are laid below the level of soil freezing, and wastewater has a positive temperature.
France will increase pressure on Russia and is preparing new sanctions at the European level. This comes after condemning Russia's attack on a passenger train in the Kharkiv region.
Kaja Kallas stated that Russia is represented in negotiations by military personnel without a mandate for peace. She noted that the Russians are not serious about this and Russia should be pushed towards real negotiations.
On the night of January 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with 105 attack UAVs of various types. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 84 enemy drones.
Atlantic cyclone "Christine" caused the death of five people and left 850,000 residents of Portugal without power. Wind speeds reached 178 km/h, destroying infrastructure.
As of this evening, 610,000 consumers in Kyiv remain without electricity. Ukraine is attracting international aid, having received 437 generators and expecting more than 500.
Kyiv is switching to temporary power outage schedules from midnight due to electricity shortages. The schedules will be uneven, individual for each building, and available in the chatbot and on the DTEK website.
The government adopted decisions to support the population and businesses in conditions of limited energy supply. In particular, the purchase of 10,000 portable charging stations for children with disabilities and the simplification of procedures for installing solar panels are envisaged.
The Ukrainian government is launching the "SvitloDim" program to support apartment buildings during power outages. Homeowners' associations (HOAs) and management companies can receive from UAH 100,000 to UAH 300,000 for the purchase of energy equipment.
A "small" air defense branch is being formed in the Air Force, which will be headed by Colonel Yevhen Khliebnikov. This decision is designed to increase the effectiveness of countering enemy drone attacks.
As of this evening, 639 apartment buildings in Kyiv remain without heating. Brigades are working to restore heat after massive attacks on critical infrastructure.
The Polish Ministry of Internal Affairs debunked Russian fake news about Ukrainians reselling Polish generators, calling it disinformation. The ministry emphasized that the aid is controlled and intended for civilians.
Kyiv has refuted information about a woman's death from hypothermia in her apartment. The official cause of death for the 88-year-old Kyiv resident was chronic ischemic heart disease.
In winter, during wartime, it is worth reviewing your home first aid kit, adding necessary items taking into account chronic conditions and possible power outages, not storing dangerous medicines for future use, and learning how to use a quality tourniquet in advance.
President Zelenskyy reported on the consequences of Russian strikes: significant power outages in the Kyiv region, and the number of houses without heating in Kyiv has decreased. In Zaporizhzhia, the enemy shelled a residential area, and in the Dnipro region, energy facilities are being restored.
On the morning of January 28, Russian troops shelled a hospital in the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson. Two medical workers, aged 45 and 55, were injured.
In the Kyiv region, a 37-year-old man defrauded seven buyers of almost UAH 800,000 by posting fake advertisements for the sale of generators and warehouse equipment. He received full prepayment, after which he disappeared.
Today, 737 residential buildings in Kyiv remain without heating, mostly in Troieshchyna. Over 1,000 utility workers are working to resolve the issue, assisted by teams from other cities.
Users of American TikTok are reporting outages in the app, prompting them to switch to alternative applications. The problems arose due to a power outage at one of Oracle's data centers.
On January 28, Ukrenergo reported a sharp deterioration of the situation in Ukraine's energy system. Due to shelling and power shortages, emergency power outages have been introduced.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Keir Starmer discussed energy support for Ukraine and strengthening air defense. The leaders emphasized the need to increase pressure on Russia and unite international efforts to end the war.
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe condemned the coercion of Ukrainians to participate in Russian elections in the occupied territories. This practice is a direct violation of international law.
A horrific winter storm in the US has caused at least 38 deaths in 14 states, including New York, Texas, and Tennessee. Extremely low temperatures and power outages persist in the central and eastern parts of the country.
In Kyiv, hot water supply has been temporarily restricted to restore centralized heating in some residential buildings. This is a forced step to eliminate the consequences of enemy attacks and stabilize the energy system.
On January 28-29, Ukraine is expected to experience a thaw and warming up to +3 degrees Celsius, in the south up to +6, and in Crimea up to +14. Precipitation in the form of wet snow and rain is forecast, with ice glaze in some areas.