Freezing cold adds to Kiev’s troubles as Russian troops close in

In any other circumstance, it would be a beautiful sight: white snow covering the roofs of ancient Kiev.

But now, the snow only adds to a long list of concerns for residents of the Ukrainian capital.

With thousands of people sheltered in unheated basements, underground parking lots and subway stations across the city, the sudden cold snap is worrying.

Temperatures have been hovering around 0°C for the past two weeks in Kiev.

In the days leading up to the start of the Russian invasion, the sky was blue and the city sunny. In a few days, sitting in the sun, winter coats started to get stale. Spring seemed to be in the air.

For now, the city’s main infrastructure is holding up. Electricity, heating and water are available as normal, but fears of potential supply disruptions have increased as a long Russian military convoy approaches the city.

The war this Tuesday (1)

At least six people were injured, including a child, in an explosion in Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said in a Telegram post on Tuesday.

The blast hit a government building, according to videos of the incident posted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and government officials. The clips were also published on Tuesday, local time, and were verified by CNN.

Russia is waging war in violation of international humanitarian law. Kills civilians, destroys civilian infrastructure. Russiaʼs main target is large cities that are now fired at by its missiles.

📍Kharkiv, Administration building pic.twitter.com/BJgyNnDp1h

— MFA of Ukraine 🇺🇦 (@MFA_Ukraine) March 1, 2022

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kubela said “Russian missile attacks” caused the explosion. He then reinforced the call for other countries to “isolate Russia completely”.

The search for possible victims continues, according to the government.

On Monday, at least nine civilians were killed by Russian rocket attacks in Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. According to him, three children died.

“The missiles hit residential buildings, killing and injuring peaceful civilians. Kharkiv hasn’t seen this much damage in a long time. And that’s horrible,” he said. Terekhov said four people left the shelter to get water and were killed.

A family of two adults and three children were burned alive in their car, he said. Another 37 people were injured. The administration of the city of Kharkiv gave the same figures.