Kyiv Shelter Shortages Push Residents Into Metro Tunnels

Subway stations in Kyiv are functioning as temporary housing for thousands of residents. As night approaches, people lay out mattresses and erect small tents in the tunnels. The city’s 4 million inhabitants face a shortage of designated shelters. This forces many to spend the nights on cold concrete floors.

Halyna, a resident of the Lukyanivka district, brings her 5-year-old son, Roman, to the nearest station each evening. She often goes even when no siren sounds. Her neighborhood has been targeted repeatedly since the conflict began four years and eight months ago. "We're alive," Halyna said while holding her son. "We've been lucky once again."

The military administration of Kyiv released new casualty figures in October. The office reported 140 people were killed in the capital during the first eight months of 2026. That total already exceeds the 172 deaths recorded for the entirety of 2025. If the current rate continues, 2026 will be the deadliest year for Kyiv since the full-scale invasion started in 2022.

Drone strikes have hit residential and educational areas. In September, a Russian drone struck an apartment building in the central Pechersk district. Daniel Umanskyj, 14, was doing homework in his room when the building was hit. Vlad, a neighbor, was in the hallway with his daughter at the time. "We were late that day, and this saved our lives," Vlad said. "These sick monsters don't care who they kill." Flowers now mark the site of the damage in Daniel's memory.

Schools continue to operate despite the danger. In early October, a drone hit a school building in southwestern Kyiv. Pupils and teachers were already in shelters when the impact occurred. Valentyna Chorna, the principal, stated that the school keeps teaching students in person. The building’s large shelter can hold more than 500 students. Grades one through nine attend classes when conditions allow.

Attendance depends on shelter availability and the duration of air raid sirens. If an alarm sounds while children are still at home, they may miss the school day. Parents face a difficult choice between going to work and staying with their children. One parent, whose daughter attends a school near the Antonov aircraft factory, noted that the walk to class is risky because an alert can start at any moment. A drone struck that parent’s building in September, though the apartment sustained no damage.

Strikes on warehouses have led to supermarket shortages not seen since the start of the war. Emergency power outages returned at the end of September. A recent Russian attack also paralyzed the subway system. With energy infrastructure under fire, the city faces uncertainty regarding the reliability of heat, electricity, and water during the winter months.

The Kyiv International Institute of Sociology surveyed residents in September. The institute reported in early October that 72% of people in the city said they were ready to endure the war for as long as necessary. City authorities have adjusted rules to preserve daily routines. The curfew now runs from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Some facilities may operate during "yellow" alerts. During "red" alerts, which indicate ballistic or cruise missiles or large combined attacks, residents must take shelter immediately.