The Ukrainian capital has been left without heating in subzero temperatures, following a wave of massive Russian attacks on the city's energy infrastructure which forced mayor Vitaly Klitchko to issue an urgent appeal for people to temporarily abandon the metropolis.
The current temperature in Kyiv is -8 and a further drop is expected over the next few hours and days.
At least four people were killed and dozens have been injured by the coordinated missile and drone attack in Kyiv but also a natural gas installation in Lviv which was targeted with an Oresnik supersonic missile.
The Russian onslaught came a few hours after Moscow's rejection of a western allies plan to develop peacekeepers in Ukraine as guarantors of a possible ceasefire.
AFP correspodents in Kyiv reported thousands fleeing for shelters and showers of Russian drones dropping on residential buildings.
'A clear and present global reaction is required, above all by the United States, which Russia takes more notice of', Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
The Ukrainian President said that Moscow must receive the message loud and clear-'it has an obligation to focus on diplomacy and must bear the consequences every time it returns to killings and destruction of infrastructures', he added.
At least 20 residential buildings were damaged in the capital, including the Qatar Embassy.
Half the apartment buildings in Kyiv were left without electricity due to 'damage caused by an attack on vital infrastructure', Mayor Klitchko said.
He called on residents that can do so, to actually leave the capital for at least a day in order to find alternative sources of energy and heating.
SOURCE-ATHENS NEWS AGENCY