As night falls, Ukraine’s capital fears the next stage of Russia’s campaign

EXHAUSTED AFTER hours of thunderous roars and wailing sirens, Kyivians fell into one of three groups as the drew to a close. There were those too alarmed to stay, and those who said they would sign up to fight. Large numbers were in the first camp: the main roads around the Ukrainian capital had been jammed from early morning as throngs of residents fled the city. Ukrainians lined up with their luggage and piled onto westbound trains, some of which snaked right past the battlefields. Some brave people were in the second camp. But the majority were in the third group–and were simply hunkering down. Queues formed at cash machines and supermarkets as people stockpiled food and money. As night fell a sinister calm reigned in the almost deserted streets. Many people headed to metro stations to sleep. Turnstiles were opened to allow access to the deep platforms where people rolled out yoga mats or dozed on benches as trains carried on running as usual. Children played on tablets and pets seemed surprisingly content in their unusual sleeping arrangements. David, a 28-year-old programmer, said he had come down to Vokzalna metro because his home was close to the ministry of defence.