Polish donors have raised more than one million zlotys (about $275,000 USD) in three days to buy power generators for Kyiv, as the Ukrainian capital faces prolonged power outages after Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, organizers said, as reported by OKO.press.
Kyiv has been among the hardest-hit cities following recent Russian strikes on critical infrastructure. More than 6,000 apartment buildings were left without heating after an attack on January 9. While the situation has improved, around 100 residential buildings remain without heat.
Fundraiser exceeds expectations
The fundraising campaign, titled “Warmth from Poland for Kyiv,” aims to supply generators to residents of the city, where electricity cuts, heating failures, and water disruptions have lasted for more than a week.
The drive is organized by the Stand With Ukraine Foundation together with several Polish civic groups and NGOs, including Euromaidan-Warsaw, the Open Dialogue Foundation, Sestry.eu, and others. Organizers initially planned to buy 100 generators, but reached the target within hours.
“Your solidarity has exceeded all expectations. We are raising the goal to two million zlotys,” the organizers said, adding that additional funds will be used to buy more generators, sleeping bags, and fuel for people without heat.
Natalia Panczenko, head of the Stand With Ukraine Foundation, said the response recalled the first months of Russia’s full-scale invasion. “This one million is not just an amount. It shows that empathy and responsibility are stronger than disinformation and hate,” she wrote on social media.
Kyiv's worst winter crisis of the war
Following the recent attacks, temperatures inside some apartments have dropped to 10-12 degrees Celsius, with residents reporting burst pipes and electrical damage caused by repeated power cuts.
Nighttime temperatures have fallen to minus 20 degrees Celsius during what officials describe as the harshest winter since the start of the full-scale invasion. Energy experts warn dozens of buildings may remain without full heating until spring.
Ukraine has introduced emergency measures in the energy sector and set up special coordination centers to stabilize heat and power supplies in Kyiv and nationwide. Repair crews continue working around the clock despite severe weather conditions.
