That night, residents of a 17-story building near the Zvirynetska metro station in central Kiev had to fight for survival. Among them were 79-year-old Volodymyr, his wife, and 35-year-old Lighti Biriukova and her family, who had to deal with the sudden chaos caused by the Shahid drone attack.
On October 10, a wave of Russian missile and drone attacks hit Ukraine's power grid and residential areas, leaving more than half of Kiev without electricity. Volodymyr, who lives on the 16th floor of the attacked building, recalls moments that changed everything.
— It was about 3:00 in the morning. My wife was sleeping. I woke up to the sound of an alarm siren. Then we saw it – a ball of fire, a blinding light. For a while we saw nothing. Explosion. I didn't hear him, I just felt the building shake, says the Ukrainian.
Windows and doors were almost thrown into the air. — My wife fell out of bed and crawled on broken glass. Within minutes, the apartment was filled with smoke. I shouted, “Get to the elevator!” We grabbed what we could and ran away, Volodymyr recalls.
The impact hit the center of the building, destroying apartments from the 6th to 11th floors. The lower floors were flooded as firefighters battled the flames. Windows were smashed, doors bent, people trapped. Officially there were no fatalities. However, Volodymyr knows the true number of victims.
— Two neighbors died of smoke inhalation. The elderly man did not survive hospitalization. My wife seriously injured her leg – she couldn't walk for two weeks. People's hair was on fire. There was chaos – says.
Survive the attack
In the second entrance to the building, Lighti Biriukova faced a different, but equally terrifying ordeal. — My mother visited me that day. We slept in the room, not in the corridor as usual, he recalls. — The windows started falling from the balcony. At first I thought it was just windows cracking under the influence of the shock wave. Then I smelled smoke. Our building was burning near the second entrance.
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Despite her fear, the woman remained calm. — I suffer from anxiety disorder, so I was prepared. I imagined situations like this every day. First: stay alive, don't panic, Biriukova recalls.
The Ukrainian woman ran to her 14-year-old son's room, gathered the animals – including the rescued kitten – and led them to safety in the hallway. Unfortunately, the cat did not survive the next few days.
The interviewee's apartmentLighti Biriukova / Kyiv Post
The attack caused physical destruction. The woman talks about neighbors trapped in their apartments. — My physics teacher suffered severe burns, and her husband died the next day. One cat inhaled smoke and suffered burns, but was rescued. The little dog didn't survive, he says.
“It was a miracle”
Some residents showed extraordinary courage. On the seventh floor of the second entrance, a neighbor climbed the air conditioning units to a nearby balcony and managed to save his wife by dragging her to the next apartment.
— It was a miracle. They didn't understand how it was even possible, admits Volodymyr.
—When I heard about it, my blood ran cold. But it was their only chance to survive, Lighti adds.
For Volodymyr, the moments after the impact were a mixture of fight for survival and disbelief. — Photos of the building immediately went viral. Friends and relatives called non-stop. Our granddaughter drove across town in half an hour to find us. We lived. I can't describe this feeling in words, says the Ukrainian.
Even their old cat survived by hiding in the closet. Over the course of three years of war, the animal learned to recognize Shahid's outbursts.
Fire after one of the Russian attacks, Kyiv, February 3, 2026.Serhii Okunev / AFP
One episode, great war
Both families face constant challenges. “We have electricity, but no heating,” says Biriukova. – The elevators are freezing. Sometimes there is no water. We use gas heaters, bioethanol fireplaces from friends, and makeshift heaters made of bricks and candles. Sleeping bags are replaced by blankets. The warmest room is the kitchen.
— By the morning, our apartments were deprived of all utilities. There was no electricity, heating, gas or water. The burned apartments are uninhabitable. But what is the main lesson? You have to persevere. Life goes on. The outbreak is just one small episode in a great war, says Volodymyr.
The interlocutors emphasize the importance of calm and preparation. -Panic doesn't help. Coordinated, calm actions save lives. We will survive whatever we can survive, says Lighti.
-Keep your doors open during a raid. Prepare an emergency bag with documents. Don't count on miracles. Now I believe in God because He believed in us, says Volodymyr.
On all floors and at all entrances, ordinary people behaved heroically, guided by instinct, planning and the sheer will to survive.
—We survived. And that's it the first, most important victory – sums up Biriukova.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
