The stray dog that went in and out every so often from the Kontraktova ploshcha metro station, in the central Podil district, was the perfect thermometer to understand when the attacks launched by Russia in the early hours of Sunday on Kyiv intensified, and which is one of the harshest, if not the greatest, that it has launched against the Ukrainian capital since the invasion began in February 2022.
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When the sky thundered, the animal made its way through those sitting on the stairs and ran down to the central corridor, the deepest part of the station. At that time, dozens of people of all ages, many with their animals, had sought refuge in the place alarmed by the warning made hours earlier by President Zelenski that Moscow could launch the hypersonic Oréshnik missile, which cannot be stopped by any anti-aircraft battery.
Throughout the night the metro stations filled up, even with those most reluctant to leave their homes
This fear had been intensifying as the night went on when drones, but especially missiles, shook buildings and left destruction in their wake. On Telegram channels, where news about the attacks is updated, photos or videos of large explosions in different places gradually appeared. All left large flames and columns of smoke.
They even claimed that the Oréshnik had fallen in the town of Bila Tserkva, south of the city of Kyiv. This would be the third time Moscow has used this missile in recent years.
“Look at the fire at the Lukianivska market,” Marina pointed out to her husband, who in turn was watching the fight of the Ukrainian boxer and idol Oleksandr Usyk, who at that time was fighting to retain the world heavyweight champion title in Giza, Egypt. “I know that right now there are Ukrainians in air raid shelters; my daughter also, from a shelter, sent me a message that said: ‘Dad, I love you, you will win’,” Usyk said after the victory.
By then, around three in the morning, more and more people were gathering in this and other shelters in the city. The explosions were not only greater, there were also reports of injured and multiple damaged buildings, including the famous market Marina referred to, which was completely ablaze. The nearby metro station of the same name also suffered impacts and it was reported that the roof was damaged, which increased the tension among those seeking protection underground.
In the end, there would be more than 600 drones and 90 missiles of different types. “I almost never come to the metro, but today I couldn’t stay at home, I’m very nervous,” said Irina, a 36-year-old architect who came down with her two dogs, which she settled on a blanket. She tried to rest in a camping chair at the top of the escalators. The three were calm, like the rest, when a loud explosion sounded above that lifted them.
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From the deepest part, the sound of falling glass was heard. The first to run down was the stray dog. Minutes later, dozens of people with wide eyes began to enter, most in pajamas. The children wrapped in blankets. “It fell on the Chernobyl Museum,” warned one of those who entered. That is, it had fallen in the heart of Podil as was confirmed when the danger subsided.
A missile had hit the block where the museum that commemorates the tragedy of the nuclear plant, which this year marks its 40th anniversary, is located, and the administrative building of Ukraine’s rescue services, that is, the firefighters and rescuers who save Ukrainians every day in every corner of the country.
A smoke cloud dominated the area and several fire trucks tried to put out the fire. All the glass of buildings on the following streets was broken, many buildings had no doors because the impact of the explosion had blown them away, like those of this correspondent who lives opposite the building. The blast wave was so strong that the windows came out of their frames.
“Only in Kyiv, about 30 buildings have suffered damage or have been destroyed,” Zelenski said, who yesterday morning visited this place and others like the National Art Museum of Ukraine, located in Kyiv’s Maidan, also hit by a missile. Authorities report two dead and 36 injured, including two children.
By late afternoon, firefighters were still working as were volunteers running to ensure no window was left uncovered. And after one of the darkest nights Kyiv can remember, the city has once again shown that it keeps fighting. This was how dozens of people lined up in front of a café that had been opened the day before and was without a single intact windowpane.
“We will not let ourselves be defeated despite how hard this moment is,” said Dimitri, a businessman who was repairing his office yesterday.
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