Russian drone and missile attacks in Kyiv have intensified, disrupting daily life with constant air-raid sirens KYIV, Ukraine -- For much of the war, Russian drone and missile attacks in Kyiv followed a particular rhythm. They almost always came at night. The warnings would begin on monitoring channels on Telegram in the late evening.
They announced drones moving south, missiles being launched, air defenses working. Ukrainian civilians judged whether it was prudent to stay indoors or make for shelter in the metro based on the severity of the threat. Now, Russia has changed tactics with the use of fast-flying, jet-powered drones, and the expectation that daylight brings a return to normal life has been shattered.
Since last week, attacks have come day and night, compounding the terror of overnight strikes with the exhaustion of constant daytime disruption. In Kyiv, the recurring wail of air-raid sirens has become part of daily life. It has interrupted commutes, shopping trips and children’s school, intruded on life’s biggest moments, from weddings to funerals, and, as these attacks always have, taken lives.
The relentless alerts are exhausting residents, leaving some wondering how long they can stay. People look at their phones or up at the sky. Moments later, in the distance, the familiar sounds of air defenses intercepting drones resound.
Plumes of smoke can often be seen rising in the distance. Photos quickly spread across Telegram channels, showing where the destruction has occurred. An hour or two later, another siren echoes.
In malls, banks and other businesses, air-raid protocols require customers and staff to leave when an alert sounds. A bank transaction can be interrupted midconversation; a shopping trip can become a cycle of entering a store, evacuating, returning and evacuating again. Getting the shopping done has become a nightmare for Volodymyr Bovsunovskyi, who recounts a recent family trip to a mall to buy clothes for his nearly 4-year-old daughter.
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