Kyiv's Night of Fear: A City's Resilience After the Storm

In the heart of Kyiv, a night of sheer terror unfolded. The city faced a barrage of more than 440 drones and 32 missiles, all launched by Russia. This relentless assault lasted for nine hours, from midnight until well past dawn. It was one of the most intense attacks since the full-scale invasion began. The city was shaken, but it stood firm. The Solomianskyi neighborhood felt the brunt of the attack. A cruise missile, traveling at about 500 mph, slammed into a residential building. The impact was devastating. The missile destroyed 35 apartments and left an entire section of the building in ruins. By Wednesday afternoon, the death toll in this neighborhood alone had risen to 23. Across Ukraine, at least 30 people were killed in the attacks, with most of the casualties occurring in Kyiv. Evhen Povarenkov, a 43-year-old warehouse worker, was one of the many affected. He was in bed when the missile hit. The force of the blast was immense, causing him to lose consciousness. When he came to, he heard his mother screaming. Neighbors helped him and his mother escape the apartment. His mother was severely injured and rushed to intensive care. She was one of over 100 wounded in the city. The scene outside was chaotic. Residents had to navigate through burning cars and falling debris. The streets were littered with personal belongings, and the trees were adorned with bedsheets and towels. The impact of the attack was visible everywhere. The residents tried to find a safe route through the destruction. The city was in shock, but it was also resilient. The attack highlighted the vulnerability of the elderly and infirm. Oleksandr Bondarchuk, a 64-year-old disabled man, could not make it to a shelter. He lay in bed, terrified, as the missile struck nearby. An hour after the attack, he slowly made his way downstairs. The sight that greeted him was one of utter destruction. "Everything was destroyed, " he said, summing up the devastation. The city's hospitals were overwhelmed. Serhii Dubrov, the director of the 12th Kyiv City Clinical Hospital, saw a surge of patients. His hospital alone received 27 patients within hours of the attack. The injuries ranged from soft tissue damage to severe internal injuries. The patients included people from all age groups, from 18 to 95, with three in their 90s. The attack underscored the importance of shelters and the need for better protection for vulnerable populations. The search for survivors continued throughout the day. Rescue workers were still discovering new bodies under the rubble on Wednesday afternoon. The city was in mourning, but it was also in recovery. The people of Kyiv showed remarkable resilience in the face of adversity. They were determined to rebuild and move forward, despite the devastation.