For Veronika\u2019s relatives in Ukraine, leaving the country has gone from something they had decided to do in the past to a plan with a deadline.<\/p>\n
The change follows a shift in the pattern of Russian attacks on Kyiv from nighttime to round-the-clock bombardment of targets. In a September 4 report, the Associated Press described how Russian drone and missile attacks, which for much of the war had come mainly at night, were increasingly occurring during the day as well. As Samya Kullab of the Associated Press writes, \u201c[the air raids have] interrupted commutes, shopping trips and children\u2019s school, intruded on life\u2019s biggest moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her relatives have considered leaving before, said Veronika, an alumni of Princeton University from Kyiv, Ukraine who asked to be identified only by her first name. But in recent weeks, as Russian daytime strikes began, many families around them have also left, according to Veronika.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have decided to leave before, but this is the time they sound the most earnest to leave,\u201d Veronika said. When asked where they might go, Veronika said her extended family has not decided. They are considering joining her family in the United States or moving to Spain. They now plan to leave within the month, she said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For Ukrainians who have remained in the country through more than four years of war, the attacks come as another winter approaches. \u201cCombined 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,\u201d Veronika notes.<\/p>\n
Ekaterina Pravilova, Professor of History and Director of the Program in Russian, European, and Eurasian Studies 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\u2019s targeted attacks on infrastructure leave residents without electricity and heating.<\/p>\n
Pravilova remarks that people she hears from in Kyiv describe repeatedly responding to air-raid alerts, \u201cSo it\u2019s like constantly, all day, drones and missile attacks.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Yet, many Ukrainians have adapted to the conditions, she said, including by buying generators and changing their routines around power outages and air raids. \u201cThe resilience of the population is just remarkable,\u201d Pravilova said.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
For Veronika\u2019s relatives, these challenges are weighed against fleeing. \u201cMy 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,\u201d Veronika said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
For Veronika\u2019s relatives in Ukraine, leaving the country has gone from something they had decided to do in the past to a plan with a deadline. The change follows a shift in the pattern of Russian attacks on Kyiv from nighttime to round-the-clock bombardment of targets. In a September 4 report, the Associated Press described<\/p>\n