Key facts
- Kyiv has endured over 20 air raid alerts since Thursday night, disrupting daily life and the economy.
- The persistent attacks are causing significant delays to transportation and forcing businesses to halt operations.
- Russian officials have stated the intention behind the attacks is to demoralize the Ukrainian public.
- Both sides in the conflict are increasingly targeting civilian infrastructure.
- Civilian resilience and the ability to sustain the wartime economy are considered critical factors in the war's outcome.
Civilians in Kyiv are enduring a relentless barrage of Russian air raids, significantly disrupting daily life and the economy. The city has experienced over 20 air raid alerts since Thursday night, with some lasting for extended periods, forcing businesses to close and trains to be delayed. This constant threat to life and mental stability is a deliberate tactic by Russia to demoralize the population, according to Russian officials.
Despite the dangers, Ukrainians are expected to continue working to sustain the wartime economy, which is crucial given growing defense spending and slowing foreign aid. The subway system has been disrupted, leading to transport chaos as civilians attempt to commute. Ukrainian officials have condemned the Russian tactics as calls for war crimes, while asserting that Ukraine targets military objectives, not civilians.
Both sides are employing total war tactics, with Russia escalating attacks on civilian housing and infrastructure, while Ukraine has also expanded its targets. The UN recorded the highest civilian mortality rates in Ukraine since March 2022 in July. Analysts describe the conflict as a mutual effort to exhaust the opposing side, with civilians increasingly becoming the primary targets as frontline progress remains stalled.