"Kyiv’s new normal: Drones force children underground as attacks escalate."

Life in the Ukrainian capital has taken a sharp turn for the worse. Commuters are being stranded without warning. Schoolchildren are rushed into underground shelters in the middle of lessons. Public festivals are being cancelled. A simple walk is now punctuated by the roar of air defences. Near-constant drone attacks have become the stark new reality in Kyiv. Daily life is likely to get even harder. Kyiv has survived many traumas since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Residents endured the initial shock of war, the arrival of attack drones, and the threat of ballistic missiles. In response, people adapted. They managed to impose a semblance of normality on their routines. Shops reopened. Cafes filled. Public transport ran. Now, that fragile routine is breaking down again. The frequency and intensity of aerial attacks are forcing a new, more dangerous pattern of life. The city is not under siege in the traditional sense, but its rhythm is being dictated by the threat from above.