Continuous drone attacks, life in Kiev likely to become increasingly difficult: Harsh winter is yet to come

Passengers stranded on public transport, children rushed to underground shelters in the middle of the school day, festivals cancelled, walks interrupted by the roar of air defences. Almost constant drone attacks have become a harsh new reality in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, and daily life is likely to become increasingly difficult, Reuters reports today.

Kiev has survived many traumas since Russia launched a full-scale invasion in February 2022. Despite the initial shock of war and the emergence of attack drones and ballistic missiles, residents have adapted and managed to maintain a semblance of normal life.

But as the fifth winter of the war approaches, it becomes increasingly difficult.

Over the summer, Moscow began sending out swarms of fast, jet-powered drones, which are more destructive and harder to shoot down than older propeller-driven models.

Over the past ten days, airstrikes have been virtually non-stop, rather than occurring mostly at night as before, undermining Ukrainians' sense that their campaign of long-range drone attacks on Russia is once again turning the tide of the war in their favor.

Vitaly Polyakova and her partner were driving near a bridge on the east bank of the Dnieper River on Thursday when a jet-powered drone hit the road not far from their car, injuring them both.

"We were driving around talking about our own things. Then all of a sudden there was a crash," said the 35-year-old Polish woman from the back of the ambulance. She had cuts on her right arm, while her partner had a bloody face and an injured right leg.

A harsh winter is coming.

The biggest worry for many of Kiev's three million residents is the arrival of winter. Russian attacks have regularly caused power and water outages since the start of the war, but their intensity over the past ten days suggests the disruptions could be even more severe.

"Last year was really hard for us. After this, as you can see, it will probably be even harder, so we are moving," said 29-year-old Bohdan as he looked at his damaged apartment building, hit in a Russian attack earlier this week.

While fighting on the frontlines claims hundreds of casualties a week and yields few territorial gains, Russia and Ukraine have engaged in an increasingly intense air war in recent months, striking each other's energy and logistics facilities.

The United Nations has so far confirmed more than 16.000 civilian casualties in the conflict, the vast majority in Ukraine.

Both Moscow and Kiev claim they are not targeting civilians, but dozens of civilians have been killed in Kiev and the surrounding region since August 27.

Travel and shopping increasingly difficult

On Monday, frequent airstrike warnings halted metro service connecting the two sides of the Dnieper, the river that divides the city.

At Osokorki station, near the waterfront opposite the city center, nurse and psychologist Yulijana Olijnik and her two sons waited on a crowded platform for the alert to be lifted.

"I'm already thinking that maybe we should just bring sleeping bags and sleep in the subway, at the station near the school. Last year was hard at school, and now I honestly don't even know what to do anymore. I just don't know," she said.

Roads into central Kiev are congested, bus stops are packed, and people walk long distances to get to work and back home.

And grocery shopping is becoming increasingly difficult. Large supermarkets close when air raid sirens sound, forcing shoppers to leave the store in the middle of their shopping.

Some dairy products are running out of stock as supply chains are disrupted and warehouses are affected.

Natalya Petrivska, executive director of the Ukrainian Alliance of Food Retailers, appeared on television this week to reassure citizens that there is no need for panic buying.

Schools continue to operate despite new dangers

Russia launched more than 2.800 jet-powered drones into Ukraine in August, Air Force spokesman Yuri Ikhnat said, after their use increased fivefold in July compared to June.

The interception rate was about 60 percent, he added, compared with more than 90 percent for slower, conventional drones.

Russia claims such attacks have a military purpose; Ukraine says they are designed to break civilian morale and persuade the government to give up territory, at a time when Washington appears to be launching a new peace initiative.

However, an August survey by the Kiev International Institute of Sociology showed that attitudes towards Russia are hardening. The number of respondents who oppose the transfer of the part of Donbas not under Russian occupation - one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's key demands - rose to 69 percent, from 62 percent in April.

On the first day of the new school year this week, students at a school in Kiev had just finished their first class when air raid sirens sounded and they rushed to underground shelters to continue their classes.

"It's stressful for them, but the children are adapting better and better," said school principal Roman Feščuk.

This year, about 400 children are enrolled in the school. The school was damaged in an earlier Russian attack in May, and the number of first-year students enrolled was lower, Feschuk told Reuters.

Oleksandra, a girl in traditional Ukrainian costume who carried flowers to mark the start of the new school year, said she especially loves art and creative workshops.

When asked what she dreams about, she replied: "For the war to end."