faced with Russian strikes, the inhabitants of kyiv forced to live to the rhythm of alerts

Russia launched a large series of strikes on several cities in Ukraine, including the capital kyiv, on Friday morning, with “a record number of missiles”. The death toll stands at at least 30, according to Ukrainian authorities.

It’s 3 p.m. in kyiv and yet another alert sounds. It’s the same thing every time: looking at the phones, checking if it’s a missile or a drone, and looking for shelter accordingly – and each person according to their fear. The inhabitants of the Ukrainian capital must cope as best they can with the series of Russian strikes, which left at least 30 dead and more than 160 injured across the country on Friday, December 29, according to a provisional report from local authorities.

On Maidan Square, some go down towards the metro to take shelter. Oleg doesn’t care. “I come from Kharkiv, I don’t give a damn about alerts, he blurted. I don’t want to go to a shelter. My home is less than 30 kilometers from the Russian border. When the Russians shoot at us from Belgorod, a rocket takes 45 seconds to hit its target. At first I was afraid, during the first two months of the war. But now it doesn’t make any sense. “Fuck the Russians.”

Life goes on in the kyiv metro

Going down the steps to the metro, in the belly of kyiv, life goes on. The metro florist sells her flowers, an orchestra plays near the underground supermarket and Bogdan, his khaki cap pulled down on his head, consults his smartphone while waiting for something to happen. “These attacks were not targeting military sites, camps, that sort of thing. These attacks were targeting civilian infrastructure, he recalls. These are war crimes. The question does not arise: these are facts. Russia is a terrorist state. What I feel is rage.”

Bogdan’s smartphone vibrates: it’s the end of the alert. He turns off his cell phone, with a bitter grin, until the next time.