Russia has changed its attacks on Ukraine from nighttime to round-the-clock bombardment.
On September 4, the Associated Press reported that Russian drone and missile attacks, which for much of the war came mainly at night, have begun to also occur during the day—severely disrupting the rhythm of daily life. As Samya Kullab of the Associated Press writes, “[the air raids have] interrupted commutes, shopping trips and children’s school, intruded on life’s biggest moments.”
Many in the capital are considering leaving Kyiv, including Veronika’s extended family. She’s a Princeton alumna from Kyiv, who asked to be identified only by her first name because her relatives remain in the capital. Her extended family have now set a deadline for their departure. In the recent weeks, as Russian daytime strikes began, many families around them have already left, according to Veronika.
“They have decided to leave before, but this is the time they sound the most earnest to leave,” Veronika said. When asked where they might go, Veronika said her extended family has not decided. Leaving behind their established jobs as nurses and the lives they built remains the biggest hurdle for her family, who have endured more than four years of conflict. They plan to depart within the month, weighing a move to Spain or joining her family in the United States.
About 4.41 million people had returned to their places of residence after being displaced by the war as of December 2025, including about 1.1 million who returned from abroad, according to the International Organization for Migration. The IOM also reported that nearly 4 million people remained internally displaced within Ukraine.
For Ukrainians who remain in or returned to the country, the day-time attacks come as another winter approaches. “Combined with the cold winter around the corner, it no longer makes sense to stay. Finding basic needs like water will be an issue once more,” Veronika notes.
Ekaterina Pravilova, Professor of History at Princeton University whose research focuses on the Russian Empire and its prior satellite states including Ukraine, said the winter is particularly difficult because Russia’s targeted attacks on infrastructure leave residents without electricity and heating. She hears from people in Kyiv describe needing to repeatedly respond to air-raid alerts, “So it’s like constantly, all day, drones and missile attacks.”
Yet, many Ukrainians have adapted to the conditions, she said, including by buying generators and changing their routines around power outages and air raids. “The resilience of the population is just remarkable,” Pravilova added.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reported that 5.9 million Ukrainians were refugees abroad at the end of 2025. UNHCR further emphasized that persistent airstrikes, damaged housing, and attacks on essential infrastructure continue to hinder sustainable returns to Ukraine by refugees.
For Veronika’s relatives, these challenges are weighed against fleeing. “My relatives plan to flee, but it is so hard for them to leave [their country] and their livelihoods, that is why they have stayed so long,” Veronika said.
