Putin Bombs Energy Grid, So Defiant Kyiv Uses Camping Gear

At the Gorgany hiking equipment outlet a brisk five-minute walk from the bombed Taras Shevchenko park in central Kyiv, Artem Pomazan uses his head torch to help a customer choose a sleeping bag.

Ukraine’s capital is grappling with power and heating outages and the 35-year-old sales assistant says demand for items like backpacks has been replaced by the more urgent need for warmth, especially after nightfall. Camping gas stoves and their cartridges are also flying out the door. At least it’s keeping the business going in a tough war economy.