140 Kyiv Residents Killed in First Eight Months of 2026

Kyiv has recorded 140 deaths in the first eight months of 2026, a figure that already exceeds the 172 fatalities logged in the capital throughout all of 2025. The military administration reported these figures on October 23, indicating that the current pace of loss may make this the deadliest year for the city since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.

The intensification of Russian attacks has forced a change in how residents survive the night. With insufficient dedicated shelters for the city's four million inhabitants, subway stations have converted into improvised dormitories. Approximately ten people per night lay out mattresses and set up small tents within the stations. Children sleep beside adults, while pets rest along the cold walls near their owners or strangers.

Halyna, a resident of the Lukyanivka district, takes her five-year-old son Roman to the nearest station on most evenings, often without waiting for a siren. She noted that the district has been repeatedly targeted during the four years and eight months of the conflict. Holding her son, she stated, "We're alive. We've been lucky once again."

Recent strikes have hit residential and educational structures. In September, a drone struck an apartment building in the central Pechersk district, killing 14-year-old Daniel Umanskyj who was doing homework in his room. Vlad, a neighbor in the hallway with his daughter at the time, said, "We were late that day, and this saved our lives." He added, "These sick monsters don't care who they kill." Flowers now mark the building in Daniel's memory.

Schools have also faced direct hits. In early October, a drone struck a school building in southwestern Kyiv, although pupils and teachers were already in shelters. Principal Valentyna Chorna reported that the school continues in-person instruction for grades one through nine because its shelter can hold more than 500 students. Lessons proceed based on shelter availability and siren duration, though parents face challenges balancing work and keeping children safe during alerts.

Infrastructure damage is affecting daily necessities. Strikes on warehouses have led to supermarket shortages not seen since the early war, and emergency power outages returned in late September. A Russian attack also paralyzed the subway system. With energy infrastructure under fire, city officials face uncertainty regarding the reliability of heat, electricity, and water supplies this winter.

Despite the strain, residents report high levels of endurance. A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology released in early October found that 72% of residents said in September they were ready to endure the war for as long as necessary. Authorities have shortened the curfew to run from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. and allow some facilities to operate during yellow alerts. During red alerts, which signal ballistic or cruise missiles, residents must take shelter immediately.