**Russia’s Escalating Attacks Leave Kyiv Residents in a State of Terror**
In the early hours of July 10, residents of Kyiv, Ukraine, were jolted awake by the thundering sound of ballistic missiles shaking their buildings. This is now a new normal for many in the capital city, as Russia’s intensified aerial attacks have become a daily reality.
“I lie down, look into the abyss of night, and hear the loudest attack,” said Hryhorii Matsebok, a 47-year-old artist who has lived through three years of war. “And you think the end has already come.” The overnight strike was one of the most intense he had experienced, with Russian forces launching 397 Shahed loitering munitions and decoy drones, along with 8 ballistic missiles and 10 cruise missiles.
The main target was Kyiv, where two people were killed and at least 19 were injured during the mass attack. The city’s residents are now living in a state of heightened anxiety, as they struggle to cope with the constant threat of death and destruction. “You watch the news and you understand that you don’t know when (the attack) will end, but you need to sleep,” said Aiida Nashchanska, an 18-year-old student who had an exam in the morning.
The recent escalation of attacks has been fueled by Russia’s increased use of missiles and drones in urban areas. Last month, civilian casualties reached a three-year high, with 232 killed and 1,343 injured in June, according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU). The surge in long-range missile and drone strikes across the country has brought even more death and destruction to civilians far away from the frontline.
“Civilians across Ukraine are facing levels of suffering we have not seen in over three years,” said Danielle Bell, Head of HRMMU. “The sound of sirens and explosions is becoming increasingly familiar, as residents cope with new anxieties, tragedies, and mounting hours of lost sleep.”
As Russia’s attacks continue to intensify, the city’s residents are taking extreme measures to protect themselves. Many have resorted to sheltering in corridors, basements, and bathrooms, covering their ears from the sounds of sirens and explosions. These experiences bring lasting scars, said Bell.
In the aftermath of the attack, Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha shared photos of firemen standing amid falling building debris, aiming their hoses at a smoldering apartment several stories above their heads. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “a clear escalation of terror by Russia — hundreds of ‘Shaheds’ every night, constant strikes, and massive attacks on Ukrainian cities.”
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