VIDEO: Watch: Kyiv vet operates on dog under torchlight

In northern Kyiv, a veterinarian operates on a dog while his assistant shines a flashlight on the animal below.

“It is difficult to work in these conditions because of the very severe power cuts and now also water shortages,” says Oleksiy Yankovenko, chief doctor of the Pan Veterynar veterinary clinic.

In another part of town, Sergiy Zuz and Albina Bilogub can’t find water at a collection point.

“There is also no phone signal,” says Sergiy Zuz, who goes to the store to buy water instead.

Albina Bilogub adds: “no electricity, no water, no heating. I have two young children, and there is no gas at home”.

Ukraine’s energy system is on the brink of collapse and millions of people have been subjected to emergency blackouts in recent weeks after systematic Russian bombings of the grid.