Kyiv subway stations become makeshift dormitories as death toll climbs

Residents of Kyiv now spend their nights in subway tunnels because the city lacks sufficient shelter capacity for its four million people. Each evening around 10 p.m., commuters lay out mattresses and erect small tents on the platforms. Children sleep beside parents, while pets settle against the cold walls or among strangers.

Halyna, a resident of the Lukyanivka district, holds her five-year-old son Roman as they wait for the next train. "We're alive," she said. "We've been lucky once again." She takes her son to the nearest station most nights, regardless of whether an air raid siren sounds. Russia has targeted Lukyanivka repeatedly since the war began in 2022.

The intensified strikes have killed residents across the city. In September, a Russian drone struck an apartment building in the central Pechersk district, killing 14-year-old Daniel Umanskyj while he did homework. Vlad, a neighbor in the hallway with his daughter at the time, said the family was late that day, which saved their lives. "These sick monsters don't care who they kill," he said. Flowers now mark the site of the damage in Daniel's memory.

Educational institutions have also come under fire. A drone hit a school building in southwestern Kyiv in early October. Principal Valentyna Chorna said the school continues in-person classes for grades one through nine because its large shelter accommodates more than 500 students. Lessons proceed based on shelter availability and the duration of sirens. If an alarm sounds in the morning while children are still at home, they may miss school.

Parents face logistical challenges when alerts occur during work hours. One colleague at a news bureau in Kyiv noted that walking to school is risky because alerts can start at any moment. Her daughter attends a school near the Antonov aircraft factory. A drone struck their building in September, though their apartment suffered no damage and her daughter was at school.

Kyiv's military administration reports that 140 people died in the capital during the first eight months of 2026. This figure exceeds the 172 deaths recorded for the entirety of 2025. If the current pace continues, 2026 will be the deadliest year for Kyiv since the full-scale invasion began.

Strikes on warehouses have caused supermarket shortages not seen since the early months of the war. Emergency power outages returned at the end of September, and a Russian attack disabled the subway system. With energy infrastructure under fire, officials face uncertainty regarding the reliable provision of heat, electricity, and water during the winter.

Residents report a determination to endure the conflict. A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted in September found that 72% of residents said they were prepared to continue the war as long as necessary. Authorities have shortened the curfew to run from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Some facilities may operate during yellow alerts, while red alerts require immediate sheltering due to the threat of ballistic or cruise missiles.