Kyiv Endures Fifth Year of War as Strikes Target Energy and Daily Life

The New York Times on Oct. 16 published a feature titled "What Life Is Like in Kyiv as Russia Tries to Make It Unlivable." The article describes conditions in the Ukrainian capital in the fifth year of war. The New York Times

According to the Times summary, Russia is trying to make the capital unlivable, drive people away and force Ukraine to capitulate. The feature focuses on daily life in Kyiv under that pressure.

The report follows days of heavy air attacks on Ukrainian cities. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said an hours-long Russian missile and drone attack primarily targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv and damaged 30 energy facilities, Reuters reported on Oct. 14.

Those strikes left hundreds of thousands of people without power in October, according to Al Jazeera. An earlier round of deadly airstrikes across Ukraine hit at least six energy targets, Reuters reported on Oct. 12.

Kyiv's city government has said missile and drone attacks during 2025 targeted critical energy, heating and water supply infrastructure. Its financial report for that year said massive attacks on energy infrastructure significantly constrained production activity and contributed to economic slowdown.