Russia has intensified its attacks on Kyiv, striking a school, hospital and bridge, with Mayor Vitali Klitschko warning residents they can no longer pretend it is peacetime.
Key facts
- Russia has ramped up attacks on Kyiv, hitting a school, hospital and bridge.
- Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Kyivans can no longer pretend it is 'peacetime'.
- A lawyer, Valeriya Tkachenko, spent two hours sheltering with her son after an air raid alert.
- The Guardian reported the account on 2 October 2026.
Russia has escalated its attacks on Kyiv, with strikes reported on a school, a hospital and a bridge in the Ukrainian capital, according to the Guardian.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said residents of Kyiv can no longer pretend that it is ‘peacetime’, underlining the growing sense of danger facing the city as the assaults intensify.
The toll on daily life was captured in the account of Valeriya Tkachenko, a lawyer who was dropping her son off at school in central Kyiv when an air raid alert sounded.
Staff hurried the children and parents into a shelter, where Tkachenko spent the next two hours with her son before emerging, already late for work.
‘I’m scared to death all day about what could happen to my son,’ she told the Guardian as she left the shelter, describing the constant fear that has become part of life in the capital.
The reports point to a heightened level of attacks on Kyiv, affecting schools, medical facilities and transport infrastructure across the city.
Why it matters
Intensified strikes on a capital city's schools, hospitals and infrastructure signal an escalation that directly threatens civilians and daily life. The accounts highlight the human cost of the conflict for ordinary residents like parents and children.
Frequently asked questions
What has Russia attacked in Kyiv?
According to the Guardian, Russian strikes have hit a school, a hospital and a bridge in the Ukrainian capital.
What did Kyiv's mayor say?
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said Kyivans can no longer pretend it is 'peacetime' amid the intensified attacks.
How are residents affected?
The Guardian reported that lawyer Valeriya Tkachenko spent two hours sheltering with her son after an air raid alert while dropping him at school, saying she is 'scared to death all day' about his safety.