At a suburban Kyiv railway station, two carriages painted in the blue and white livery of Ukrainian Railways sit on the main platform, their diesel engines running as snow steadily falls. The train is not going anywhere but it is providing a vital service for dozens of people who have been left without power and basics like running water or heating.
These are Ukraine's Invincibility Trains, designed to boost public morale and provide some comfort as a bitter winter coincides with intensifying Russian attacks.
In one of the carriages, Alina sits watching her infant son Taras playing with toys provided by international charities who help run the service.
It's winter and it's rather cold outside, says Alina, which is something of an understatement. With the effect of the windchill, temperatures this week in Kyiv have hit -19C. It is bitterly cold.
I live in a new building on the 17th floor, but we have no elevator, no electricity and no water supply, says Alina. As Taras plays with his toys, she says it is also a relatively safe and comfortable place for her daughter to meet friends.
It is also a welcome distraction for Alina, whose husband works all day in a factory, but she suddenly starts to stutter and weep as she tells me about her 54-year-old father who was killed at the front two years ago in a summer offensive near Bakhmut.
As she regathers her composure, Alina says she will definitely come back here and welcomes the relief the train brings from the weather and the nightly Russian strikes.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of deliberately exploiting the bitter winter to target power stations, energy storage facilities, and other critical infrastructure. Kyiv's Mayor, Vitali Klitschko, somewhat controversially suggested that city residents, who could, should leave Kyiv to help ease pressure on critical resources.
Despite such hardships, most people here in Kyiv remain stoic and are prepared to put up with them.
The freezing conditions have prompted many families to seek warmth, including Yulia Mykhailiuk and her husband Ihor, who have resorted to heating bricks on a gas stove to warm their apartment. They plan to temporarily move away from Kyiv due to the energy crisis and the fear of further attacks.
Stas, an 11-year-old boy, remembers the first day of the war vividly and now struggles with the ongoing threats posed by Russian drones. He, like others, finds solace and community on the Invincibility Train as they navigate this harsh winter.
The reality remains stark, with power outages and harsh conditions creating an atmosphere of uncertainty. Residents are adapting each day, hoping for their city to regain its strength amid a long and difficult winter.
