Kyiv continues to prepare for a challenging winter amid ongoing Russian missile and drone strikes, with residents adjusting to life under frequent and unpredictable attacks. Alla Lisovska, co-owner of the Tivoli furniture factory and a prominent advocate for Ukraine’s furniture industry, described the realities of living in the capital with her family during the conflict.

Lisovska, 28, and her sister Julia founded the Ukrainian Export Alliance to promote Ukrainian design internationally. Despite the war, their family business, which produces solid oak and beechwood furniture, increased production to support the national effort. The company currently exports to 26 countries, though sales have declined since August 2026, from about 14,000-15,000 chairs monthly to around 10,000. Lisovska worries European buyers may be losing focus on Ukraine’s ongoing needs.

Living near Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, Lisovska resides with her husband, Viacheslav Shamrai, a law professor, and their two daughters, Alla, five, and Sophia, two, who was born during a rocket attack. The children’s early years have been largely spent underground due to safety concerns. Schools and kindergartens have shelters where children remain during heavy alerts, and days without alarms are rare and valued for allowing outdoor activities and daylight lessons.

With Alla starting primary school next year, Lisovska is opting for a private institution equipped with generators, water supplies, and individual basement shelters for each classroom. The $1,000 monthly tuition is a significant expense but serves as motivation to maintain her business and lifestyle under difficult circumstances.

Kyiv’s residents face numerous disruptions, particularly from power outages lasting 24 to 40 hours due to damage to civilian infrastructure. The Kyiv Digital app provides schedules for electricity cuts alongside maps of shelters and transport options to help citizens navigate daily life. Water supply is also inconsistent, with homes going without for extended periods, forcing reliance on alternatives like baby wipes and disposable tableware.

To minimize risk during air alerts, Lisovska purchases groceries online from Silpo, a major supermarket chain, which continues deliveries despite ongoing attacks. Residents have adapted by installing protective window film, keeping power banks and water bottles handy, and carrying whistles in case of collapses.

The war has altered Kyiv’s social fabric, with many men absent due to military service and families relocating to safer areas such as western Ukraine. Lisovska notes that curfews and security restrictions around sensitive areas have become routine, though she emphasizes the resilience and calm of civil society. Police, emergency services, and sanitation crews operate efficiently even under threat, often risking their lives during second strikes on civilian sites.

Although Lisovska travels internationally to promote her business and expand opportunities, each trip away from Kyiv comes with personal anxiety about the safety of her family. Returning from abroad involves complex routes through Poland and multiple checkpoints within Ukraine due to closed airports.

Lisovska acknowledges the psychological toll of the war, highlighting a moment when her daughter questioned why they live in a country at war. She affirmed their commitment to staying for their work, home, and role in supporting Ukraine’s economy and resilience.

Looking ahead, Lisovska maintains her efforts to raise awareness of Ukraine’s situation through international exhibitions and expresses a personal long-term plan to adopt a child from an orphanage—a reflection of the social consequences of the conflict affecting thousands of vulnerable children.

Despite the hardships, Lisovska’s narrative portrays a determined community balancing normal life and survival in a city under siege, preparing for another winter shaped by uncertainty and resilience.