In early January 2026, a major blackout hit the Berlin district of Steglitz-Zehlendorf, leaving tens of thousands of residents without electricity, heating, and communication. The outage was caused by a deliberate arson attack on power cables carried out by left-wing extremists on January 3.

Amid the crisis, Ukrainian refugees in Berlin quickly organized an improvised “Point of Resilience” to support local residents. The initiative was based at the German-Ukrainian center AdlerA e.V., led by Oksana Orel. Since the building was connected to a different power line, it was able to provide both heat and electricity.

At the center, German and Ukrainian residents could warm up, charge their phones, drink hot tea, and prepare food. Ukrainians also offered psychological support, sharing their own experience of living through prolonged power outages in Ukraine during the war.

Local residents were impressed by the speed and effectiveness of the Ukrainian community’s self-organization. For many Germans, several days without electricity came as a shock and highlighted how vulnerable even a modern city can be.

By January 8–10, 2026, power supply in the affected area had been fully restored. The initiative became a powerful symbol of solidarity, mutual support, and community resilience.

Compiler of the selection - Anastasiia Malyshenko