By day, Kyiv can often feel far from the front line. But at night, the war looms large.
In the morning rush hour, the traffic along the Dnipro river embankment is heavy and slow-moving as people try to get to work and go about their daily lives.
During the night, air raid sirens emit sporadic warnings, turning routine into anxiety as people assess the real threat to their lives.
Last night, alerts on channels like Telegram warned residents of a significant attack, stirring a sense of urgency.
At around 03:00, a loud explosion shattered the night, marking a missile strike that hit a residential building in the Darnytskyi district, one of over 30 missile strikes carried out by Russian forces amid nearly 600 drone incursions.
The aftermath revealed devastating destruction. Rescue workers clawed through the wreckage of a low-rise block of flats, where entire floors had caved in, leaving families’ belongings scattered in a tragic reminder of their lives.
Among those waiting anxiously was Iryna Kutsenko, desperately trying to reach her mother, who chose not to evacuate to shelters. "These attacks are cruel," she remarked, as she mourned the potential loss.
The toll is grievous, with at least 19 lives claimed, including children. Frustration mounts in the community, respondent critiques of the ongoing conflict echo loudly amidst the ruins.
As the city grapples with the relentless assault, the grim reality of war is etched deeply into the hearts of its residents.
