Kyiv death toll approaches record as shelter gap forces millions underground

The military administration of Kyiv reported that 140 residents were killed in the capital during the first eight months of 2026. This figure is close to the 172 deaths recorded for the entirety of 2025. If the current pace of attacks continues, this year could surpass the annual death toll from 2025, marking the deadliest period for the city since the full scale invasion began in 2022.

The rise in casualties coincides with a severe shortage of protective infrastructure. With insufficient shelters for the city's 4 million residents, many families have moved their sleeping arrangements to subway stations. Each night, starting around 10 p.m., people set up mattresses and small tents in the underground corridors. Children and pets sleep alongside adults on the cold walls of the stations, turning public transit hubs into residential spaces.

Residents describe a shift in daily routine driven by frequent attacks. Halyna, a resident of the Lukyanivka district, told reporters that she takes her 5-year-old son, Roman, to the nearest station most evenings, even when no siren is sounding. Her district has been targeted repeatedly during the four years and eight months of the conflict. She noted that the family has survived another strike, describing their situation as fortunate.

Strikes have also impacted residential and educational areas. In September, a drone hit an apartment building in the central Pechersk district, killing 14-year-old Daniel Umanskyj. A neighbor, Vlad, stated that he and his daughter were in the hallway when the impact occurred, and their delay saved their lives. Flowers now mark the damaged building in memory of the child. In early October, a drone struck a school building in southwestern Kyiv, though students and staff were already in shelter.

School operations depend on the size of available shelters and the duration of air raid alerts. At one school, Principal Valentyna Chorna said classes continue in person because the facility's shelter can hold more than 500 students. However, if an alarm sounds in the morning, children at home may miss the day. A colleague at a local news bureau described the stress of working while a child stays home alone, noting that the walk to school is risky because alerts can start at any moment.

Logistical challenges have compounded the crisis. Strikes on warehouses have led to supermarket shortages not seen since the early months of the war. Emergency power outages returned at the end of September, and a Russian attack temporarily paralyzed the subway system. Questions remain about how the city will maintain heat, electricity, and water supplies through the winter as energy infrastructure comes under fire.

Despite these conditions, a majority of residents maintain their resolve. A survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology released in early October found that 72% of city residents said in September they were prepared to endure the war as long as necessary. Authorities have adjusted the curfew to run from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., and some facilities may operate during yellow alerts, though red alerts require immediate sheltering.