Kyiv Residents Take Shelter in Subways Amid Ongoing Russian Attacks

 

In Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, air raid sirens and Russian missile strikes have forced thousands of residents to seek shelter in the city’s deep subway stations several nights a week. Among them is 27-year-old Daria Slavytska, who now packs her yoga mat, food, and documents into a stroller and descends with her toddler Emil for safety. The surge in nighttime drone and missile assaults has doubled subway shelter use since May, jumping from 65,000 nightly visits to over 165,000 in June. The repeated attacks have shaken the city's 3.7 million residents. Many, like Slavytska, say they never expected to live in daily fear of losing their homes. After a nearby strike destroyed a residential building in April, she began taking personal documents and calming medicine for her son. The constant alarms have left children traumatized, with Emil now calmly urging his mother to take shelter when the sirens sound. Despite Kyiv being the best-defended city in Ukraine, many who once came to the subway shelters once a month now go multiple times a week. The trauma is likened to the WWII London Blitz. Families sleep on mats or buy inflatable mattresses just to get rest, as exhaustion, stress, and fear mount with each passing night of attacks.

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Beyond the immediate fear of missile strikes, the constant disruptions have created a deeper crisis: sleep deprivation and psychological trauma. Ukrainian psychologists say lack of rest has triggered widespread anxiety, mood swings, and declining mental and physical health. Children and adults alike are showing signs of stress-related disorders. For many, even the sound of sirens causes panic attacks or emotional breakdowns. A study published in the European Journal of Psychotraumatology found that 88% of Ukrainians report poor sleep quality. Experts warn of long-term consequences, including chronic health issues and reduced economic performance. Sleep researchers and behavioral scientists compare the experience to living in a permanent combat zone, where fear never lets the body rest. To cope, some residents are investing in survival gear. Small business owner Kateryna Storozhuk spent over $2,000 on a steel “Capsule of Life,” a shelter box placed in her home. She now sleeps inside it nightly with her dog. Retailers like JYSK report a sharp rise in sales of sleeping gear, as residents try to create some comfort amid the chaos. With civilian mental health deteriorating and children growing up under constant threat, the humanitarian toll of Russia's attacks continues to rise, even far from the frontlines. For families like Slavytska’s, peace is not just about safety it's about the ability to simply sleep.

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