Kyiv Mayor Admits City’s 'Safe Period' Is Over as Drone Strikes Disrupt Life

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has stated the situation in the Ukrainian capital is "very dramatic," signaling the end of the city's period of relative safety during the war, according to The New York Times. The newspaper reports that the previous atmosphere of relative calm, symbolized by crowded cafes, has been replaced by constant drone activity and near-continuous air raid alerts. Strikes on Kyiv's bridges have disrupted daily life, with traffic paralyzed and residents forced to cross on foot. Following Russian strikes on Dnipro River bridges, authorities restricted movement across four key bridges during air alerts. The NYT notes a mass exodus from the city, with rental availability surging, and highlights Klitschko's statement as a rare public admission that Kyiv's status as a safe haven no longer exists.