In pictures: A week of Russian jet drone terror in Kyiv

Kyiv residents have taken to using only their first names for privacy as Russian drones relentlessly target the city. The constant drone strikes have turned the skies over Kyiv into a hive of activity, making it feel like there is no safe place to shelter. Fires have erupted in various locations due to the relentless attacks, with the Zaliznychnyi Market, a modernist architectural landmark, burning fiercely after a reported Geran-5 jet-powered drone strike on September 23, 2026.

The attacks are incessant, coming in waves with periods of calm in between, but have intensified over the past week. The drones, newer jet-powered versions of Shahed-type drones, fly at speeds of up to 600 kilometers per hour, leaving little time for residents to react.

The noise from the drones striking their targets, combined with the thunder of air defenses, has become a daily soundtrack for the city. People are walking past burnt-out cars at parking lots, while the smell of smoke lingers in the air.

In one tragic incident, a woman was killed after a Russian drone strike, her body lying in the street outside a damaged office building. Emergency services were also seen rushing to an apartment building that had been struck by a drone, with firefighters and medics evacuating an injured person.

The attacks have extended beyond the city center, striking Kyiv's data centers and internet hubs, disrupting online services and connectivity. Russia has also resumed targeting the capital's energy infrastructure, adding to the growing list of civilian targets.