Ukrainians are trying to cope with an escalation of Russian bombings and a change in what has been a regular pattern of attacks, especially on the country’s capital, Kyiv.
In the last week, Russia launched several attacks during daytime, using fast-flying jet-powered drones. This new wave of attacks, besides the cost in lives and damages, has also been highly disruptive to any sense of normalcy left. Residents in Kyiv have endured and coped with the war, getting used to the unrest at night and rushing to air shelters. Now, they feel like there is no safe moment, with attacks night and day.
Residents have become exhausted by the constant disruption of daily life. A resident interviewed by Associated Press said that he is considering moving out of Kyiv. He said that the bomb alerts are so frequent that he doesn’t see the point of repeatedly going to the nearest shelter. School activities are also affected, with children always moved to shelters whenever there is an air-raid alert.
Before this escalation, people had become accustomed to monitoring Telegram channels in the late evening, discussing the right course of action in a recurring pattern. Now this is no longer possible, as the routine has been shattered. Daily activities are under constant threat, and the Ukrainian military seems far from able to cope with the new attacks, unlike before. Train journeys have become impossible to predict, with reported cases of passengers being told to get off the train and continue on foot for hours.
Some residents are pushing through with their lives, even getting married despite the bomb threats and the air raids. Evhen Mytsyk and his wife Iryna Baranova went through with their special day regardless of the situation. Mytsyk told AP that “If you wake up in the morning, you have to make the most of that day, because there might not be another chance. At a time like this, you appreciate life and the love of your family more, and you give love more openly yourself.”
