Critical Transport Lifeline for 800,000 Daily Riders Suspended; Stations Function as Shelters Amid Severe Energy Crisis
KYIV — The Kyiv metro system, a vital artery for the Ukrainian capital and a critical shelter during bombardments, was forced to suspend all train and escalator service on Saturday due to a severe power shortage. The outage comes amid a sustained Russian campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during a brutal winter.
Operator Kyiv Metro announced the suspension in a statement, citing a loss of power from external supply centers. The system, which serves approximately 800,000 passengers daily and has remained operational through intense previous attacks, stands as a stark symbol of the deepening strain on the national grid.
“The metro system will function as shelters for citizens until the power supply is restored,” Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated on Telegram, confirming that stations would remain open for safety.
The closure underscores what Ukrainian officials have called the most difficult winter of the war, with relentless Russian strikes crippling power generation and leaving millions without reliable electricity and heating in sub-zero temperatures. Throughout its nearly four-year invasion, Russia has systematically targeted energy facilities, but the intensity of recent attacks has brought the grid to a critical point.
The suspension coincides with a reported but unverified diplomatic development. The Kremlin stated on Friday that President Vladimir Putin had agreed to a one-week pause in strikes on Kyiv, lasting until Sunday, following a request from U.S. counterpart Donald Trump. The operational impact of this reported pause on the broader energy attacks remains unclear.
For Kyiv’s residents, the metro’s shutdown represents a dual blow: the loss of essential transportation and the degradation of a trusted network of underground shelters, highlighting the daily challenges of life under siege.
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