Rising Russian missile attacks leave Kyiv residents living in fear

Residents of Kyiv are facing growing fear as Russia steps up its missile and drone attacks on the Ukrainian capital, forcing many people to change the routines they have followed since the war began more than four years ago. While air raid sirens and nightly attacks have become part of daily life for many Ukrainians, recent strikes have been larger, more frequent and far more difficult to defend against, leaving people increasingly worried about their safety.

Twenty seven year old student Oleksiy Virskovsky admitted that he rarely used the underground shelter near his apartment during the early years of the war. Like many residents, he had grown used to the constant threat of attacks and often remained at home despite air raid warnings. However, the latest wave of Russian missile strikes has changed his thinking. He now heads to the shelter whenever alerts are issued, saying the attacks have become much more dangerous than before.

Russia has targeted Kyiv since launching its full scale invasion in 2022, but recent weeks have seen a sharp increase in the use of ballistic missiles. These weapons travel at extremely high speeds, giving Ukrainian air defense systems very little time to intercept them. During the first days of July alone, more than 50 people were killed in Kyiv, including victims of two of the deadliest attacks the city has experienced during the entire conflict.

One recent strike raised particular concern after Ukraine’s air defenses failed to intercept any of the incoming ballistic missiles. Another attack caught many residents by surprise when explosions were heard before the city’s air raid warning system activated. Although officials have not explained the delay, the incident increased public anxiety because people rely heavily on warning systems to seek shelter before missiles reach the city.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has acknowledged that Ukraine does not have enough Patriot missile interceptors to fully protect the capital from these attacks. During a recent NATO summit, United States President Donald Trump indicated support for allowing Ukraine to produce Patriot missiles domestically. However, the proposal is still at an early stage and any locally manufactured interceptors are expected to take months before becoming operational.

As the attacks continue, many Kyiv residents are adjusting their daily lives. Some now go directly to underground metro stations after work if they believe a major attack is likely instead of waiting for official warnings. The stations have become crowded with families carrying blankets, air mattresses, baby strollers and pets as they prepare to spend the night underground. According to Kyiv’s metro authority, more than 50,000 people recently took shelter inside the network during a single night, the highest number recorded since the early months of the war.

For twenty two year old Veronika Khudenko, who is in Kyiv for an internship from London, sleeping in the metro has become a nightly routine. She says the emotional pressure caused by constant attacks makes it difficult to function during the day because people rarely get a full night’s sleep.

Others continue to shelter at home. Forty six year old Anna Nesterova prefers staying in the hallway of her apartment because she feels more comfortable there than in crowded underground shelters. Her son has been serving on the front line since turning 18, and she says she tries to remain calm for his sake despite the danger.

Yulia Parkhomenko, a mother of two, has no shelter close to her home, so she takes her children into the bathroom with pillows and blankets whenever air raid sirens sound. She says every new attack brings greater fear, especially for young children who struggle to cope with the constant threat of explosions. As missile strikes intensify, many families across Kyiv are finding that living with war has become even more difficult than before.