7am Is it time for Ukraine to cut a deal?
Feb 24, 2026
Kateryna Argyrou, chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations and advocate with close ties to Ukraine, shares first-hand reporting from the war zone. She recalls personal loss, describes winter power-grid attacks and life without heat, outlines why Odessa matters, and discusses drone warfare, battlefield shifts and the debate over whether Ukraine should pursue a deal.
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Family Injured By Nearby Missile Strike
- Kateryna Argyrou described her mother being injured when a missile hit the building next door and blew out all the windows.
- Her mother was thrown across the room, suffered a major head injury, was hospitalised and is still recovering months later.
Systematic Targeting Of Ukraine's Energy Grid
- Russia is systematically targeting Ukraine's entire energy grid, leaving power plants damaged or destroyed across the country.
- The strikes cause no heating, frozen water and bone-chilling indoor temperatures down to minus 20, forcing people to sleep in coats and use gas stoves where available.
Daily Survival With Generators And Frozen Apartments
- Kateryna recounted daily life in Kyiv with generators everywhere, frozen plants and water, and people standing by ovens to warm themselves.
- She slept in a fur coat with three blankets, saw generators 'every three steps' and smelled gasoline and diesel across the city.