Frosts in Ukraine
Ukraine is experiencing frosty weather due to Arctic air and an anticyclone. Forecaster Natalia Ptukha reported that in the coming nights, temperatures in the north of the country are expected to drop to -20 degrees Celsius, and in Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia regions, in some places, to -25.
Foreign Minister Sybiha urged the IAEA and leading states to force Russia to abandon strikes on substations that power Ukrainian nuclear power plants. According to intelligence, Russia is planning dangerous strikes that will have catastrophic consequences.
In Kyiv, work is underway to restore heat supply to 102 residential buildings after the Russian attack on January 9 and the frosts. The biggest problems are in the Holosiivskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts, with 16 repair crews involved.
President Zelenskyy stated that Russia is preparing strikes on Ukrainian energy and infrastructure, including nuclear power plant facilities. He emphasized that every strike on energy infrastructure in winter weakens the efforts of states to end the war.
Variable cloudiness and black ice are expected throughout Ukraine. At night, the temperature will drop to -24°C in the north and to -6°C in the south.
Ukraine has imported 5. 7 billion cubic meters of gas to compensate for production losses due to Russian attacks. Parameters for further imports for the heating season have been determined.
Russia launched another, the sixth this week, attack on Naftogaz Group's gas production facilities. The attacks negatively affect gas production volumes, forcing an increase in imports.
As of the morning of January 17, roads in Ukraine are partially snowy or wet, mostly dry in the southern and eastern regions. All major highways are passable, road workers are on duty.
As a result of the night attack, 56,000 families in the Bucha district of Kyiv region were left without electricity. DTEK energy workers have powered critical infrastructure facilities and are carrying out restoration work in freezing conditions. Emergency power outages continue in Brovary and Boryspil districts.
On the weekend of January 17-18, Ukraine will be covered by arctic air with frosts down to -25° in the north and -13° in the south. The Ukrainian Hydrometeorological Center warns of black ice on roads throughout the country.
The IAEA Director General confirmed the agreement of Ukraine and Russia on a local truce to restore the power line to the ZNPP. This will allow the restoration of the last backup line, which failed on January 2.
Uklon and Bolt companies are resuming 24/7 operations in Kyiv starting January 17, having coordinated this with the city authorities. This will allow residents to reach important facilities during curfew hours.
In Kyiv, 67 high-rise buildings remain without heating after the massive attack on January 9. Utility workers and energy specialists are working to restore infrastructure amid emergency blackouts.
The new Minister of Energy, Denys Shmyhal, presented anti-crisis measures to overcome the consequences of blackouts. Experts assess these decisions as quick managerial gestures that do not solve systemic problems.
An Asian anticyclone is heading to Ukraine, bringing frosts until the end of January. Ice is expected, with snow and stormy winds in the south.
Due to new Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, consumers in Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv regions were de-energized this morning. Network restrictions are applied in Kyiv, Kyiv, and Odesa regions.
Great Britain is providing £20 million to restore Ukraine's energy infrastructure. This funding is aimed at repairing and protecting energy facilities damaged by Russian attacks.
Yulia Svyrydenko and Daiga Mieriņa, Speaker of the Latvian Saeima, discussed the state of Ukraine's energy system and countering the aggressor's plans. Latvia will allocate 0.25% of its GDP to Ukraine's needs.
Czech President Pavel stated in Lviv that Ukraine needs perseverance and direct support, not sympathy. He emphasized that the winter period exacerbates the consequences of the war, and the country has been resisting aggression for almost four years.
The Cabinet of Ministers has introduced a set of measures in connection with the emergency situation in the energy sector caused by massive Russian shelling. In particular, the Ministry of Education and the Kyiv City State Administration (KMDA) should extend or establish winter holidays until February 1, 2026.
President Zelenskyy met with Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of the IMF. They discussed a new financing program for Ukraine, which envisages support until 2029.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko met with IMF head Kristalina Georgieva, inspecting the consequences of enemy attacks on Kyiv's energy facility. They discussed preparations for the adoption of the IMF support program for Ukraine.
Russia is intensifying attacks on Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, Odesa, and Dnipro, to disable heating and electricity supply systems. The goal of these actions is to undermine the morale of the population and force Ukraine to make concessions in peace negotiations.
President Zelenskyy held an energy selector meeting, following which he announced decisions regarding the curfew.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha called the International Committee of the Red Cross's statement regarding "strikes on critical infrastructure in Ukraine and Russia" shameful. The head of the ICRC delegation to Ukraine will be summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for explanations.
The Cabinet of Ministers is preparing a decision to introduce an emergency in the energy sector for a quick response to damage and power shortages. This formalizes the current state, allowing for operational repair work and infrastructure protection.
The Security Service of Ukraine has collected evidence of 256 Russian attacks on energy facilities, which are classified as crimes against humanity. These actions by the Kremlin are aimed at destroying the Ukrainian people.
An active cyclone from the northwest caused a deterioration in weather in the western and central regions of Ukraine, where up to 15 cm of snow fell. The main roads are passable, and more than 1000 units of equipment are working.
At night, the enemy attacked energy infrastructure, causing power outages in Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions. Network restrictions are in effect in Kyiv and Kyiv region, and blackout schedules are temporarily not applied.
Winter grain crops in Ukraine are dormant, which is normal. Snow cover protects crops from freezing, but in the central and southern regions, it is insufficient.