Greetings from Kyiv, where candles are the last option during wartime blackouts
Greetings from Kyiv, where candles are the last option during wartime blackouts
Far-Flung Postcards is a weekly series in which NPR's international team shares moments from their lives and work around the world.
I lit this candle at our bureau in Kyiv last month, after one long power outage left us in frigid darkness for hours. But we are lucky. For many in Kyiv, this winter's heat and electricity blackouts last for days.
The fourth winter of Russia's war on Ukraine has been the most brutal in recent times, and the Russians have weaponized this by repeatedly attacking Ukraine's energy grid.
Candles are now a last option for light when emergency power sources fail.
They also hint at loss. "February ... is sobbing," the Ukrainian poet Iya Kiva wrote of the "damned winter" in 2022, when Russia's full-scale invasion began, "and the candle drips on the table, burning and burning."
Ukrainians say they will survive this phase of Russia's war too. They sleep with their coats on, sometimes under piles of blankets, swaddle their babies in insulated layers warmed by hot water bottles, and gather their families to cook borsch on portable campfire stoves.
The Russian strikes on the energy grid keep coming. One more hit early Tuesday morning. The temperature was -21 degrees C (6 degrees F). A new low.
See more photos from around the world:
- Greetings from Mumbai, where residents take breathing space where they can find it
- Greetings from Kalk Bay, a South African fishing village where wild seals await scraps
- Greetings from Acre, Israel, where an old fortress recalls the time of the Crusades
- Greetings from a Paris park, where a lone sequoia tree is a marvel to behold
- Greetings from Vienna, where an imperial palace hosts a holiday market for all
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
Sponsored
Ads
Categories
Read More
You May Not Know About This Rule That Could Boost Your Retirement Savings We research all brands listed and may earn a fee from our partners. Research and financial considerations may influence how brands are displayed. Not all brands are included. Learn more. Saving smartly for retirement could be the difference between having enough money...
Winter Olympics 2026: How to Watch Ice Hockey Events Why You Can Trust CNET Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Can Team USA's NHL-packed lineup stop tournament favorites on Team Canada? Kevin Lynch is a London-born,...
After backlash, Adobe cancels Adobe Animate shutdown and puts app on ‘maintenance mode’ After customer backlash, Adobe said it won’t fully discontinue Adobe Animate, as planned. The company this week announced it would shut down its 2D animation software, Adobe Animate, amid an increased focus on its investments in AI. On Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, the company issued an update to the company’s...
Spotify upgrades its lyrics feature with offline access, more translations Image Credits:hocus-focus / Getty Images 5:00 AM PST · February 4, 2026 Spotify on Wednesday announced changes to its built-in song lyrics feature, which includes making lyrics translations globally available, offering the ability to view lyrics when offline, and relocating the feature...
The Winter Olympics are upon us. Here's how to follow along An advertisement for the 2026 Winter Olympics stands near Piazza Duomo in the co-host city of Milan, Italy, in the lead-up to the opening ceremony. Maja Hitij/Getty...
