Russia is scouting Kyiv and the surrounding region for its next targets, from power substations and railways to hypermarkets and airports. Nikolaievsky Vaniok, a major Ukrainian monitoring channel, says Russian aerial reconnaissance has been mapping specific sites across the capital and Kyiv Oblast, and a national-security official warns that a ballistic strike is being prepared.
The reported scouting fits Russia's pattern of taking apart Ukraine's power and civilian infrastructure as winter nears, with Moscow switching to terror or rear as its tactics of the war.
Signs of preparation are present
Andrii Kovalenko, who heads the National Security Council's Center for Countering Disinformation, has also confirmed Russia is preparing a ballistic strike, with signs of the preparation visible, while its diplomats stall on any real step toward a ceasefire.
Ballistics are the threat Ukraine's air defenses struggle most to stop: in a recent attack on Kyiv's water system, not one of Russia's ballistic missiles was intercepted.
"The enemy is preparing a ballistic strike. Signs of preparation are present," he wrote, adding the warning to "be attentive in the coming days."
The scouting maps the everyday
Nikolaievsky Vaniok, which tracks Russian air activity, says the reconnaissance had lingered over the capital's ordinary machinery.
In Kyiv, it listed traction substations and other rail infrastructure, an Auchan hypermarket and similar stores in the Obolon district, power substations across several districts, a trolleybus depot, and Zhuliany airport.
In Kyiv Oblast, there are substations near Bucha and Irpin, many more that feed the railways, possible fuel depots near Borodianka and in the Bila Tserkva district, and the airfield at Vasylkiv. The account could not be independently verified.
Jet-drone defenses run late
Ukraine is racing to build a large-scale defense against jet-powered drones, the fast Gerans that have strained Kyiv's air cover, but the channel's administrator said the work was moving at "its own pace".
"If we manage a proper counter before winter, that will be very lucky," he added.
