Viktor, 23, Sofiia, 18, and their dog, Teddy, were settling in for the night on Thursday at the Dorohozhychi metro station, just three stops from Kyiv’s city center. The couple have been sheltering here “every night for the past three weeks,” Viktor said, as the missile threat to the city has grown worse. The dog, only three months old, has been with them for two weeks. Teddy lies quietly, knowing no other way of life.
The mood in the Ukrainian capital has changed over the past couple of months as the war has hit home more directly. Russian high-speed ballistic missiles are now regularly targeting the city, and Ukraine’s military has run out of interceptors for the only weapon system that can stop them—US-made Patriots. The anxiety hanging over this wartime city has only intensified.
“Before, if you heard an air-raid warning, you still had time to pack your things and get to the shelter. Now you get a warning, and then 30 seconds later there are explosions, so you have no time,” Sofiia said. The night before, a wave of missiles hit the city within minutes of the first warning, at 11:51 PM. Sixteen people were reported killed after the missiles struck areas including residential blocks in the suburbs. Drone attack warnings followed for several more hours, fraying nerves after the initial strikes.
City residents had been bracing for a major attack on Wednesday night. It had been a few days since the last one, and there were also reports that Russian Tu-160 strategic bombers were flying toward the war zone. They launch cruise missiles, but their presence in the air signals a broader missile and drone attack. The lower hall at Dorohozhychi metro was packed by 10 PM that night, Viktor said, with tents and people lying on ground sheets, leaving almost no space for the couple when they arrived.
Earlier on Thursday morning, the grim aftermath of the missile strikes on residential areas was clearly visible. Two missiles hit the Solomianskyi district, west of the center. One sheared off the top floor of a 10-story apartment block, killing two people. The second crashed into a disused building in the middle of a car park, reducing it to a pile of rubble, while local residents tried to see if there was any hope for their cars—the ones that weren’t completely burned out.
The rear end of Vitalii’s car was smashed in by the blast, and it looked like a total loss. The 42-year-old said he works for an insurance company but admitted he hadn’t insured his own vehicle. After a while, though, the car surprisingly started, since its engine had been facing away from the blast. At first, the impact of the overnight attack may be financial, but Vitalii said its real effect will be psychological. “We are alive, our arms and legs are intact. We will carry on. But now it will be more frightening.”
Kyiv’s mayor, former heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko, arrived at the scene. “These attacks on the city have one aim—to drive people into depression,” he said. He was pressed on how many new bomb shelters the city has built, which might prevent people from having to sleep in metro stations that reopen at 6 AM. He couldn’t give a specific number to one questioner.
Ukraine’s military no longer announces how many ballistic missiles come in because it can’t stop them, though hits can easily be seen.It was easily heard from bedrooms across the capital. In July, the last full month with available data, 437 civilians were killed and 2,610 injured across Ukraine, according to UN figures—the highest death toll recorded since May 2022.
Ukraine civilian deaths chart Causes of civilian casualties in Ukraine
Even though it’s August and daytime temperatures often hit the 30s, much of the conversation is about the coming winter. People expect to lose central heating and electricity, as many did last year when apartment temperatures in the worst-hit areas dropped to 4-5°C. Kyiv’s infrastructure seems defenseless, and those who can afford it have long since bought generators, batteries, electric radiators, and anything else for emergency heating, but worries remain.
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A survivor of the night’s attacks holds a backpack containing her cat in Solomyanskiy district.
“We’re prepared to manage without electricity and central heating—we did our homework, got the apartment ready, and made it through last dreadful winter,” said Maria Hlazunova, who lives in the city center. “But water… I’m afraid of not being able to wash my hands and food properly. Not to mention the toilet,” which she admits is a particular source of anxiety. Residents know the city has only one wastewater treatment plant, at Bortnychi. It hasn’t been hit yet.
Ukraine has defended itself by stepping up attacks on Russia, first targeting the country’s oil refineries with long-range strikes, which caused queues at petrol stations, and more recently hitting warehouses and e-commerce sites that Kyiv says are also used by the military for logistics. It’s been effective, though Russia has responded in kind—bombing and destroying warehouses just outside Kyiv, with uncertain medium-term economic consequences from the destruction.
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The damaged Rozetka warehouse in Brovary, Kyiv region; a firefighter works at the warehouse after a Russian attack.
Early on Thursday, a food distribution warehouse near Ukraine’s unused Boryspil commercial airport was completely destroyed by a missile attack. The fire spread because a series of drone warnings—Shaheds were flying overhead—meant emergency workers couldn’t safely respond at first. When the Guardian visited in the afternoon, parts of the burnt-out site were still smoldering, and a few employees stood around, realizing their jobs had vanished in the wreckage.
Viktoriia Ruban, spokesperson for Ukraine’s state emergency services in the Kyiv region, the area just outside the city, described a shift in Russian military tactics. “Previously, the Russians would strike the Kyiv region at night. Now it’s three or four hours, then a strike; another three or four hours, then another strike. Whether it’s morning or daytime—it makes no difference now,” she said, and the same applies to the capital, where daytime alerts have become more common.
1:12Barrage of Russian strikes devastates Kyiv – video
Iryna Chechotkina, co-founder of Rozetka, Ukraine’s most successful e-commerce distributor, showed a few journalists around the ruins of what was her company’s largest distribution hub near Brovary, north-east of Kyiv. It was a modern automated facility, built for $70 million, capable of sending 100,000 parcels a day and employing 1,000 people. But it was completely destroyed by three missiles on the night of August 4-5, the fire so intense that in places only bent-over cranes can be made out.
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Iryna Chechotkina, the co-founder of Rozetka, inside her company’s burnt-out distribution hub in Brovary, Kyiv region.
It was clearly a difficult visit for the businesswoman, amid worries that more of the company’s warehouses could be struck, affecting Rozetka and the 50,000 vendors who rely on its service. But the broader military reality is fragile.
“How can a country defend itself against ballistic threats if we have nothing with which to shoot them down?”” she asked. “It’s really tough for me; I’m a mom of four, and I’ve given up time with them to build this place. It’s my life’s work.” Switching to English, she added: “This isn’t easy.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Here is a list of FAQs based on the situation in Kyiv written in a natural clear tone
General Background
Q What is currently happening in Kyiv
A The city is under intense attack from Russian missile strikes These attacks are hitting residential areas and infrastructure leading to a rising number of civilian casualties and widespread damage The overall mood in the city is described as very grim and tense
Q Why is Russia attacking Kyiv specifically
A Kyiv is the capital and the political heart of Ukraine Striking the capital is a strategic move to try to break the morale of the government and the people disrupt command and control and put pressure on the countrys leadership
Q Is this a new escalation of the war
A Yes this wave of attacks represents a significant and intense escalation While Kyiv has been targeted before the current frequency and intensity of the missile barrages are making it one of the most dangerous periods for the city since the start of the fullscale invasion
Safety Practical Concerns
Q What should people in Kyiv do when they hear the air raid sirens
A They should immediately go to the nearest shelter or take cover in a safe location such as a basement or a bathtub away from windows It is crucial to follow the instructions of local authorities and stay indoors until the allclear signal is given
Q Are the metro stations still open as bomb shelters
A Yes the Kyiv metro system continues to operate and double as bomb shelters during air raids Many people are using the underground stations for safety during the heaviest attacks
Q Is it safe to travel to Kyiv right now
A No It is not safe for civilians to travel to Kyiv All nonessential travel should be avoided The risk of being caught in a missile strike is extremely high and many essential services may be disrupted
Q What can I do to help people in Kyiv from abroad
A You can donate to reputable international organizations that are providing humanitarian aid medical supplies and support to civilians in Ukraine You can also advocate for continued political and financial support for Ukraine from your own government
Impact Daily Life
Q How are people in Kyiv managing their daily lives under these attacks
