Russia has intensified its assaults on Ukraine, launching nonstop waves of armed drones into busy areas of Kyiv. The relentless attacks have left residents exhausted and on edge as air raid sirens sound nearly constantly. On Saturday morning in the Obolon neighborhood, customers at See You Cafe were enjoying brunch when a drone slammed into a tree 65 yards away.

Terrified patrons rushed inside; a young woman tried to jump toward the basement and broke her leg. The cafe owner, Artem Rudychenko, ran outside and found a man carrying a tiny, bloody body. Police later confirmed the girl was killed by shrapnel that pierced her lung.

Meanwhile, the death toll from a nighttime strike on an arms depot near civilian homes grew to 38. Russia launched nearly 1,500 drones into Ukraine in four days, many powered by jet engines that make them difficult to intercept. Officials and civilians view the escalation as an attempt to wear down Ukrainian morale, complicate school reopenings, and further damage the economy.

An unsteady new rhythm has emerged in the city, with many residents frantically checking alerts and sleeping in shelters while clinging to routines. Plumes of smoke rose over different parts of the city as air defense systems countered new waves of drones. By Sunday, the cafe had reopened with one window boarded up and another badly cracked, though parents pushed strollers past drone debris and what remained of a scorched tree in the park below.