In brief
With Russia’s drone and missile attacks rising, Kyiv residents are rethinking their future. Mariia Shostak and many others are packing up to leave the capital, some heading to Egypt’s warmer shores, others seeking safer rural spots. While surveys show 40% of Ukrainians consider relocation, most stay, relying on new bunker‑powered micro‑generators and temporary shelters in the outskirts. The continuing bombardment has forced families to face a harsh winter in an uncertain city, sparking a subtle exodus as they seek safety and stability.
As Russia’s relentless drone and missile strikes darken Kyiv’s skies, families like Mariia Shostak’s are packing bags for a future away from the capital.
Last winter, sub‑zero temperatures and frequent power‑cut by Russian attacks left city dwellers shivering in cramped flats.
"It was a very difficult winter last year in Kyiv," Mariia told us, now exiting her small apartment to move her children—four‑year‑old Artur and two‑year‑old Kira—to the warmer shores of Hurghada.
While 40% of Ukrainians surveyed by Gradus research are considering relocation, most choose to stay and survive, even as the city builds hidden bunker‑powered micro‑plants to keep the lights on.
Other families are fleeing to rural villages, selecting locations without factories or railways to dodge future attacks.
The government has offered elderly and young‑mother families temporary housing in forested outskirts and rebuilt power plants are bracing for energy crises, allowing some to prepare for a harsher winter.
