Russia has recently targeted not only Ukrainian power plants, military sites, and apartment buildings. Increasingly, Ukraine's economy is also being targeted, with attacks on warehouses, distribution centers, post offices, and stores.
Just like those of retail giant Epitsentr. In the past few days alone, four branches have been destroyed. Among them in Kyiv, where multiple ballistic missiles struck a shopping center in the northern part of the city this week.
At the locations still intact, work continues. Operations director Maksim Sheremet walks through an Epitsentr store between large shelves with gardening tools, electronics, and decorations for the holidays. "It seems like a new wave," he notes with dark circles under his eyes. Due to all the attacks, he has been so busy that he has hardly been able to sleep.
Empty Shelves
The store has had to completely change its way of working because of the war, says Sheremet. Goods no longer go through distribution centers because those have also been destroyed. Items remain in trucks until they are delivered to the store.
Because of this, it takes longer to deliver products and the selection is more limited. Sheremet points to nearly empty shelves where some gas burners are displayed. Previously, they had gas burners from ten different brands; now there is only one.
In Ukraine, they believe Russia wants to make life completely impossible for residents with these kinds of attacks. Because it is precisely in these types of stores that Ukrainians stock up to prepare for winter, for example with jerry cans, gas burners, and power banks. Branches of hardware store Dnipro M have also been attacked, where generators are among the items for sale.
Ukrainian intelligence recently seized Russian plans for attacks on cities such as Kyiv this coming winter. The documents describe a planned campaign that could have major consequences for the population. This involves attacks on electricity and heating supplies, but also on water supply and sewage systems.
Deteriorated Relationship with the US
Meanwhile, the relationship with President Trump has reached a new low in recent weeks. American intelligence needed to warn the population in time about attacks did not come through. This has since been restored.
Deliveries of interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems from the US are also delayed. Additionally, the use of the Starlink satellite system, crucial for the Ukrainian military, was restricted. President Zelensky sees all this as attempts by Trump to put pressure on Ukraine.
Residents of Kyiv are bracing themselves for what could be the harshest winter yet. Especially because Ukraine does not have enough air defense to protect the country against large-scale, prolonged attacks with ballistic missiles and jet drones.
'Not Sitting Still'
This also means that Epitsentr stores can be hit at any moment. When the air raid alarm sounds, Sheremet moves together with employees and customers to a shelter next to the store. A drone has been spotted nearby.
"Of course, the threat is extremely high," says the operations director. "Every day we get up and get back to work. What is destroyed, we repair. We certainly cannot just sit still."
Since the start of the large-scale invasion, 23 Epitsentr locations have been destroyed. Mainly shopping centers, but also three logistics hubs and a tile factory of the company. Currently, 59 branches remain open.
In the shelter, 39-year-old Anna is hiding with her little son. She is renovating her house while her husband serves at the front. The apartment is already prepared for winter with a portable battery for emergency power and a camping gas stove, she says.
Anna likes to visit Epitsentr. "There are fewer and fewer of them, unfortunately," she says. "But life goes on. People want to keep building and so do we. If possible, we will keep coming here to shop."