UC Berkeley professor describes what it was like in Kyiv during recent drone attacks

UC Berkeley Professor Anastassia Fedyk is currently in Kyiv, Ukraine, working on several initiatives, including technology projects and efforts to preserve the history of the ongoing war. She says air raid alerts are a constant reality in the city. “Alerts are very frequent,” she explained, adding that it’s often difficult to know when to actually take shelter. One night, she was walking home from a small independent theater performance when the sirens began. But, as is common in Kyiv, most people simply carried on. She followed suit — went home and went to bed — until around 3 a.m., when explosions shook the city. That’s when she and her husband rushed to an underground shelter. Fedyk says that’s one of the greatest challenges for people in Ukraine: years into the war, repeated alerts have become so routine that many try to live as normal a life as possible, even when danger looms. She also noted that expectations for peace are low. “We’ve seen Putin drag things out with President Trump before — no one here is holding their breath. People are focused on realistic goals.” Through her work, Fedyk is collaborating with Ukrainian organizations that provide software for several initiatives — including safeguarding the historical record of the war for future generations.