Russia has intensified missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, using fast ballistic missiles that give residents little or no time to reach shelters. The change has undermined the sense of predictability provided by Ukraine’s air-defence warnings, leaving many civilians exhausted, frightened and reconsidering whether they can safely remain in the capital.

In the first 10 days of July, three major attacks killed nearly 60 civilians, while Kyiv has since experienced more daily air-raid alerts than at any point since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Daria, 27, left Kyiv after a mother was killed while running to a shelter, despite facing a four-hour daily commute; others, including 62-year-old Olha and her 98-year-old mother, cannot leave and are taking improvised precautions at home.