Divers from Ukraine’s State Emergency Service have repaired a pipe damaged in a Russian attack at one of Kyiv’s thermal power plants, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said.
According to the minister, the operation was an exceptional underwater rescue mission carried out in extreme conditions, with temperatures dropping to minus 15 degrees Celsius. Shelling had damaged a pipeline, causing flooding at the plant and significantly complicating repair work. The damaged infrastructure is crucial for heating and electricity supply to thousands of households.
Klymenko said the divers began work without hesitation, operating in freezing water under harsh conditions. The operation lasted six days, and the water leak was eventually stopped, allowing maintenance crews to continue full restoration work at the facility.
The mission was critical, as without rapid intervention large parts of Kyiv could have been left without heating during the coldest winter period.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later awarded state honors to the divers in recognition of their courage and exceptional professionalism.
The situation in Kyiv remains difficult. Mayor Vitali Klitschko said that as of January 22, nearly 3,000 buildings in the capital were still without heating. In addition, recurring emergency power outages continue in many areas.
Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have caused widespread disruptions to heating and electricity supply across the country. The operation at the Kyiv power plant illustrates the extreme conditions under which Ukrainian rescue workers are operating to keep essential services running in the midst of war.