{
  "id": 3996053,
  "title": "What it’s like to live through Kyiv’s constant air raids",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/what-its-like-to-live-through-kyivs-constant-air-raids",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-28T16:29:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/kyiv-air-raid-alerts-russia-war-civilians-ukraine/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Living through the constant air raids in Kyiv is an experience marked by fear, uncertainty, and the relentless toll it takes on the mental health of civilians. The city has endured more than 20 air raid alerts since Thursday night, each one accompanied by the deafening wailing of sirens and the fear of explosions. The duration of these alerts vary, ranging from an hour to up to 10 minutes, leaving the city in a perpetual state of alert.\n\nThese alerts have a significant impact on daily life, as everything must halt until the \"Air raid alert is over\" announcement is made. Public transportation, such as the subway, has been halted between the left and right banks of the River Dnipro, forcing people to endure lengthy walks, crowded buses, and congested traffic to reach their destinations. This transportation chaos has added to the danger for those caught in large groups, further exacerbating the risk.\n\nThe psychological impact of these constant threats is immense. As a resident of Kyiv, it is evident that the terror inflicted by these attacks is sending many into a state of mental instability. The Kremlin, through Deputy Speaker of the Russian Duma Pyotr Tolstoy, aims to demoralize the public and encourage them to support the troops. However, this approach is not well-received in Kyiv, with Ukrainian officials like Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi responding with disdain and indignation.\n\nDespite the ongoing attacks, Ukraine is retaliating with its own brutal tactics, targeting civilian infrastructure such as energy facilities, retail warehouses, and businesses. Russia, in turn, has escalated its attacks, striking civilian housing, postal services, and other civilian targets. The U.N. has recorded the highest civilian mortality rates since March 2022, with Russia reporting an increase in civilian deaths caused by Ukrainian attacks.\n\nUkraine's Deputy Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal aptly describes the situation as akin to the 12th round in a boxing match, where both sides hope their opponent will be the first to fall. Ukrainian military analyst Mykola Bielieskov likens the conflict to a \"mutual driving of each other into the Stone Age,\" with the hope that one side will prevail before the other does.\n\nDespite the ongoing attacks, it is the Ukrainian civilians who are bearing the brunt of the war. Their mental resilience and ability to adapt and continue working to maintain the economy are crucial factors that will ultimately determine the outcome of this conflict. As Hlib Vyshlinsky, executive director of the Center for Economic Strategy think tank, notes, \"This is a tactic of deliberate exhaustion of civilians, pushing the rear to accept a war outcome unfavorable to the state.\" Until the war concludes, Ukrainians must endure, waiting for the final words to be spoken from their loudspeakers: \"Air raid alert is over!\"",
  "summary": "While armies are stuck on the front line, we civilians are a target. We are also the force that will determine the outcome of the war.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}