‘Only fools are not afraid’: Ukrainians adapt to life under constant Russian drone attacks

Living Under the Buzz: Nikopol’s Daily Struggle Against Russian Drones

Only fools are not afraid – While the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant often dominates international news coverage, a quieter but equally dangerous story unfolds in Nikopol, a southern Ukrainian city situated just across the Dnipro River. Local officials report that this frontline community has endured nearly daily assaults since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. The proximity of Russian military installations—mere two miles away on the opposite riverbank—has transformed Nikopol into a target-rich environment for short-range unmanned aerial vehicles.

A City Adapting to Constant Threat

Oleksandr Varytsev, a local poet who operates a charitable organization serving hot meals to elderly and disabled residents, describes the psychological toll of living under siege.

“We’ve actually grown somewhat accustomed to the danger, though the feeling of fear never really goes away,”

he explained.

“It’s very scary – and if it’s scary for me, you can imagine how older men and women feel when they come to our volunteer center.”

The terror is not abstract. Authorities released devastating footage in June capturing a small Russian drone striking an elderly woman seated in a wheelchair. That single incident claimed three lives, including the 87-year-old victim and her son. Earlier in April, another drone strike on a public city bus resulted in four additional fatalities. These incidents represent just two instances of Russian first-person view (FPV) drones deliberately targeting civilians rather than military installations—a pattern also evident in Kherson and Kramatorsk.

From Daily Routine to Survival Mode

Despite Moscow’s repeated assertions that its strikes focus exclusively on Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, the evidence tells a different story. Varytsev notes that drone sightings have escalated dramatically over recent months, climbing from two or three occurrences daily to approximately three every hour around the clock.

This relentless aerial threat has fundamentally altered civilian behavior. Residents avoid standing in open areas such as bus stops. Educational institutions, including schools and kindergartens, remain shuttered. Essential services like the Ukrainian national postal system and municipal transportation operate on suspended schedules.

“People are afraid to walk in the street, but they’re adapting to the new reality,”

Varytsev observed.

“We keep our heads up all the time, we no longer look down at our feet.”

Demographic Shift and Physical Defenses

Before the invasion began, Nikopol housed approximately 100,000 residents and was renowned for its strawberry production destined for Ukrainian markets. Current estimates suggest half the population has departed.

“The city is emptying before our eyes. The situation is very dangerous, and there are more and more attacks every day,”

said Oleksii Kirillov, a freight transportation professional with over twenty years of experience in the region.

Kirillov explained that his priorities have shifted from commercial logistics to facilitating evacuations. Through four years of conflict, he has developed the ability to differentiate between fast-moving combat drones and slower reconnaissance variants. While fear has diminished somewhat, it persists.

“Only fools are not afraid.”

Physical adaptations are equally visible. Nikopol is increasingly draped in overhead fishing nets designed to intercept incoming FPV drones—a defensive measure now common across frontline cities from Kherson to Kramatorsk. Residents are actively working to extend this netting from roadways onto sidewalks to improve pedestrian safety.

Technology Meets Tradition

Beyond nets, technological innovations are emerging. A city-wide mobile application now alerts residents to approaching drones. Companies and emergency responders have been equipped with handheld detection devices known as “Chuykas,” manufactured by Ukrainian firm BlueBird Tech.

Carmine Clemente, a professor of radar systems at Scotland’s University of Strathclyde, provided expert analysis of these devices.

“It’s better than nothing, but it’s not a silver bullet,”

he stated.

“It can give you probably a couple of minutes, at least, to get off the bus and try to get sufficiently far away to hide.”

The technology works effectively against drones operating on analog radio frequencies but cannot identify those following pre-set navigation paths, utilizing fiber-optic cables, or transmitting digital signals. According to Kateryna Bondar, a senior fellow at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), these detectors are being promoted to civilian markets even more aggressively than to military buyers.

Bus operators, drivers, emergency volunteers, medics, and soldiers alike have adopted the devices throughout frontline territories. As Bondar noted, the threat extends beyond combat zones—

“Every civilian can become a target because unfortunately Russians use

drones indiscriminately against populated areas, turning everyday life into a precarious balancing act between routine and survival.