Heat places in Ukraine: “The soul gets a boost”

In order to protect against the cold winter in Ukraine, thousands of heat places are currently being set up. There, people not only get energy for their mobile phones, but also give each other support.

By Andrea Beer, WDR, currently Kyiv

Anton Kondur pushes the tarpaulin of the gray tent aside and enters one of the heat points that are set up across the country. “We’re open 24/7 and everyone is welcome,” says Kondur, who works for Ukraine’s civil protection team. “We have Starlink here without a password and it’s free for everyone. People can charge their cell phones, drink tea and water, warm up. The police take care of security and the heater gun takes care of the heat.” The tents are also open during curfew, but fewer come after the start, reports Kondur. “Before they come to warm themselves.”

“Point of Indomitability”

Kondur turns on the gray heat gun. It gets loud, but warm air flows into the tent interior. “Point of inflexibility” reads a yellow sign at the entrance, because that’s what the Ukrainian leadership called such hot spots. There is drinking water, a children’s play area, loungers and a small first-aid kit. There are long cables with multiple plugs on the table for charging mobile phones, tablets or power banks.

A couple of older women in coats and headscarves are sitting next to it. You have a warming glass of tea in your hand. The younger Alla eats a biscuit with it. “I have intermittent electricity and the heating keeps cutting out. I also got medicine here and before I came I was cold. I also have medical problems. My hands are numb and I get cold easily when I’m not warm dressed,” says one of the women.

Thousands of places of warmth are set up

According to President Volodymyr Selenskyj, 4,000 such heat places are to be set up across the country, in tents, but also in administrative buildings or schools. There are already almost 1,000, said the spokesman for the Ukrainian disaster service Oleksandr Khorunschyj on Ukrainian television. “Since we started on November 18, more than 34,000 people have come to the fixed heat points and about 30,000 have been helped at mobile points.”

Power outages have become commonplace

In total, millions of people in Ukraine are affected. Because of the systematic Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, there is still around 30 percent too little electricity in the energy grids. Planned emergency shutdowns are intended to relieve the grids, but unpredictable power outages have also become part of everyday life. Many people have generators installed on their balconies and store drinking water, candles, batteries and non-perishable food at home.

“Good conversations and support for each other”

In the heated tent, people not only get energy for their mobile phones, but also their souls get a boost, say Alla and a dark-haired lady from the neighborhood who she has just made friends with.

“It connects. People sit together, talk and exchange information. There are good conversations and support for each other. When the fighting started, it was the same. I remember how we hugged strangers – especially the long ones had to sit in cellars. You can see that it all had bad psychological consequences.”

“Everything will be fine and end soon”

According to a Ukrainian energy think tank, the complex energy system could be repaired within about two months so that there would be no more serious outages – but only if Russia stopped attacking it. But nobody expects that. Hydroelectric, heating and nuclear power plants or transformers and important substations remain Moscow’s goals. Repairing causes high costs in Ukraine and prevents the export of electricity.

Also, it wears people down. Because they have to reckon with new Russian drone and rocket attacks at any time. Alla is also prepared: “It is unclear what will happen next. I actually expected something like this at the beginning of March. We can only think of good things. Everything will end well and soon.” And her new acquaintance adds: “But when you hear what’s being said on the radio, you don’t want to go home. It’s cold there and everyone is alone with their problems. Together we’re all kind of on the same level. It’s then easier because you see that you are not alone.”