Ahead of winter, Russia changed its tactics and shifted its attacks on Kyiv to a round-the-clock operation, according to Bloomberg
Since late August, Russia has intensified its airstrikes on Kyiv, increasingly using jet-powered drones, which are more difficult to intercept. Whereas the main threat used to be at night, strikes can now occur at any time of day.
Due to the Russian military’s new tactics, residents of the capital are once again having to adapt their daily lives to constant air raid alerts.
According to Bloomberg, Russia’s new tactics have complicated logistics and the work of government services in the capital, as well as increased the risk of civilian deaths and injuries.
“All of this has further undermined morale as the cold weather approaches, forcing many—especially mothers with young children—to consider whether they should leave the unprotected city or even the country,” the publication notes.
According to official statistics from city authorities, air raid alerts were sounded 74 times in Kyiv in the seven days leading up to September 2. The total duration of the alerts was 63 hours.
Previously, Kyiv residents and residents of other Ukrainian cities had already adapted to a certain routine: enduring attacks at night and returning to work and their normal lives during the day. Now this routine is changing again.
People are cutting back on walks, staying closer to shelters more often, and spending the night in subway stations during dangerous periods.
The intensification of attacks comes amid Russia’s regular strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Many Ukrainians fear that the coming winter may repeat the scenario of the previous one or even turn out to be even more difficult.
“Although Russia is now using fewer ballistic missiles, switching to jet-powered drones, this could be even worse for Ukraine if it means that Moscow is stockpiling missiles for the colder months. The goal will be the same as before—to destroy Ukraine’s energy and heating infrastructure and make its cities increasingly uninhabitable,” notes Bloomberg.
Thus, the shift in the nature of Russian attacks could become an additional source of pressure on Ukrainian cities as the cold season approaches.
Ukrainian authorities acknowledge that constant airstrikes could paralyze normal life and economic activity in major cities.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced adjustments to security protocols so that government agencies and businesses can operate more effectively depending on the threat level.
One of the planned measures will be a two-tiered warning system that will distinguish between the threat posed by drones and the more serious danger of missiles.
At a lower threat level, businesses and government services may be allowed to continue operating, which should help keep the city functioning even during prolonged attacks.
At the same time, Kyiv residents are having to adapt to a new reality in which air raid alerts may become part of everyday life—not only at night but also during the day.
On the night of September 5, Russian troops attacked infrastructure in the Odesa region with strike drones. The strikes set fire to a warehouse where food was stored.
Over the past 24 hours, Russian forces attacked 25 settlements in the Kharkiv region, including the city of Kharkiv. The shelling damaged residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, and civilian infrastructure.
In the morning, Russian troops attacked Zaporizhzhia with strike drones. The attack caused fires in various parts of the city and resulted in damage to civilian infrastructure.
A Russian attack on Wednesday destroyed a warehouse containing Philips-branded household goods and caused significant damage to the warehouse infrastructure of the company’s logistics partner in Ukraine.
On the night of September 5, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine, using “Iskander-M/KN-23” ballistic missiles and 167 attack drones.
Russian occupiers attacked the “Epicenter” shopping mall in Mykolaiv several times. Two people were injured as a result of the strikes, and fires broke out at the impact sites.
In Kyiv, Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine had proposed to Russia—the aggressor state—that it temporarily suspend airstrikes during negotiations related to possible visits by U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
In the U.S., President Donald Trump stated that Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are traveling abroad to try to reach a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia—the aggressor state.
