Al Jazeera cameraman Alasdair Brenard recounts a harrowing experience of life under Russian bombs in Kyiv, Ukraine. The night air raid sirens pierced the silence, warning of incoming drones and ballistic missiles.
Brenard’s phone lit up with messages from their Ukrainian producer, Luda, alerting them to the imminent threat. As the explosions grew louder, Brenard hastily dressed and retreated to the bathroom, a window-free zone, seeking refuge from potential glass shattering.
The sound of drones buzzing overhead, followed by rapid anti-aircraft machinegun fire, filled the air. Brenard grabbed a small backpack with essentials and joined fellow hotel guests in the lobby, awaiting the all-clear signal.
The next hour was marked by the relentless whine of drones, explosions, and the staccato punch of machinegun fire. Despite the danger, Brenard reassured himself that the hotel was unlikely to be hit, but the sense of powerlessness and fear lingered.
As the all-clear signal sounded around 5 am, Brenard and others returned to their beds, but sleep didn’t come easily. The memory of 397 drones and 18 missiles launched at Kyiv that night lingered, a stark reminder of the city’s vulnerability.
The following morning, Brenard visited impact sites, witnessing devastation and meeting survivors. Twenty-five people were wounded, and two lost their lives, including 65-year-old Leubov, who couldn’t evacuate in time due to recent spinal surgery, and 22-year-old Maria, who returned to her apartment and tragically lost her life.
The resilience of Ukrainians was evident in the volunteers distributing tea and porridge to shaken survivors, offering solidarity and support. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s warning at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome echoed in the minds of many: Russia’s drone attacks would intensify, potentially sending 1,000 drones in a single night. The war in Ukraine had become a battle for control of the skies, with drone-on-drone clashes becoming increasingly decisive.