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Schools Closed in Kyiv After Russian Strikes on Energy Infrastructure

Published January 16, 2026, 19:14
Schools Closed in Kyiv After Russian Strikes on Energy Infrastructure

Due to ongoing Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced the closure of the city's schools until February 1st. The damage caused by the bombings led Ukrainian President Zelensky to declare a "state of emergency" in the energy sector. Approximately 6,000 apartment buildings in Kyiv, half of the total, were left without heating, and even after heating was restored, about 100 buildings remain without. The Kyiv authorities have taken additional measures to conserve energy, reducing public lighting to 20% and eliminating decorative lighting. The situation is particularly difficult as the crisis coincides with winter and the need for heating. Schools had reopened on January 12th after the holidays, with a combination of in-person and distance learning. However, the deterioration of the situation in the energy sector made their closure necessary to protect students. Klitschko emphasized that the situation is very difficult and affects the provision of basic services. Authorities are working intensively to repair the damage and ensure the city's energy supply.