Ukraine war: how escalating attacks are upending lives in Kyiv

Commuters stranded; ⁠children rushed underground in the middle of the school day; festivals cancelled; walks punctuated by booming air defences. Near-constant drone attacks are the stark new reality in Kyiv, and daily life is likely to get harder.

Kyiv has survived many traumas since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Despite the initial shock of war and the advent of attack drones and ballistic missiles, residents adapted and managed to impose a semblance of normality.

But as a fifth full winter of war approaches, that is becoming harder to maintain.