Kyiv
Kyiv is the capital and strategic heart of Ukraine, serving as the command center for national resistance and international diplomacy. Since 2022, it has been a primary target of Russian long-range missile and drone campaigns, enduring sustained strikes on its civilian and energy infrastructure.
Kyiv stands as the historical and modern anchor of Ukrainian sovereignty. Located on the Dnieper River, the city is the seat of government and a symbol of national resilience. For the Jewish world, Kyiv holds deep significance as a former major center of Jewish life in Eastern Europe and home to a resilient contemporary community that remains active despite the ongoing conflict. Since the escalation of hostilities in early 2022, Kyiv has transitioned into a city under perpetual aerial threat. Russian forces consistently target its energy infrastructure and civilian centers using a diverse arsenal, including Iskander ballistic missiles, Kh-101 cruise missiles, and Iranian-manufactured Shahed-style drones. In August 2026, the city faced a significant escalation in the intensity of these strikes. On Thursday, August 20, Russian forces launched a massive combined assault involving over 50 missiles and dozens of drones, resulting in at least 12 fatalities and damage to residential buildings and logistics warehouses. This attack was notable for the reported use of North Korean-manufactured KN-23 ballistic missiles and hypersonic 'Zircon' munitions. Further strikes on Saturday, August 29, reportedly hit an ammunition storage compound in the city, with initial reports indicating at least 27 fatalities. These operations often aim to degrade the city's power grid and break civilian morale; a June 2026 strike on the Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, left 140,000 residents without electricity. In response, Kyiv has become the base for sophisticated retaliatory operations, including unprecedented drone campaigns against Moscow. As the war continues, Kyiv remains the focal point of both Russian aggression and Ukrainian defiance, with its civilian and cultural infrastructure bearing the brunt of the aerial campaign.
