Ukraine faces -25°C without heat: Here’s how we’re helping

Ukraine is facing one of the most dangerous moments of the winter.

A new wave of drone and missile attacks has severely damaged energy infrastructure across the country, including some of the worst destruction yet to DTEK (Ukraine’s primary energy provider) power stations. In Kyiv, thousands of families are now enduring temperatures as low as –25°C (–11°F) without reliable heat, and many have gone weeks without consistent electricity.

AH&H responded by launching the Invincibility Train Cars, a unique initiative in partnership with Ukrainian Railways, World Central Kitchen, White Stork, and Hachiko Foundation, in early January.

Since then, 60 Invincibility Train Cars are now active across Ukraine, serving as mobile hubs of warmth, electricity and connection. They are in place across the Kyiv region, Kharkiv region, Sumy region, Western Ukraine, and the Poltava region.

One of the trains was struck in a Russian attack last week – thankfully, no one was hurt (scroll down for the video). 

When the power grid fails, these train cars provide:

• Safe heated spaces for families to warm up
• Electricity to charge phones and stay connected
• Reliable internet access with Starlink connectivity during blackouts
• Games and toys for children to unwind and play with other kids

“I live in a new building on the 17th floor, but we have no elevator, no electricity and no water supply,” Alina, a mother and visitor of the Invincibility Train Cars, told the BBC.

The need is growing fast, and in the Kyiv region, we’re already seeing an average of 500 daily visitors. As attacks intensify nearly every night and winter deepens, more communities are being pushed into darkness and extreme cold. Some are even heating bricks on gas stoves to keep themselves warm at home.

Ivan and his mother (below) come every day to warm up and stay together. In a city where apartments are freezing and electricity is unreliable, the train provides one of the few safe spaces they have to be together, safe, amid the uncertainty of war.

Just yesterday, one of the Invincibility Train Cars was struck during an attack. The incident shows us the terrifying conditions people and frontline teams are working to survive under every day. See the damage that was done below.

We’re sharing this update because this moment is urgent, and we want you to know how your support is helping people stay warm, connected and safe during another intensely cold winter of this conflict.