A nighttime massive missile bombardment of Kyiv with ballistic missiles has caused damage to subway infrastructure on the left bank of the city. According to the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA), the entrance and exit lobbies at the surface-level stations Chernihivska and Lisova on the red line have been temporarily closed. On the morning of October 19, 2026, train traffic on this section will be restricted, with services operating only between Akademmistechko and Darnytsia stations.
What Was Damaged and How Repair Works Are Progressing
The KCSA reported that the shelling damaged a surface metro station, tracks, and the cable network. Specialists are already working at the site to restore the tracks and engineering networks of the metro system. According to available information, during the second wave of strikes, debris damaged the station on the left bank and severed the nearby running and contact rails.
How Red Line Train Operations Will Change
On the morning of October 19, red line train traffic will open between Akademmistechko and Darnytsia stations on a normal schedule. Chernihivska and Lisova stations remain temporarily closed for passenger entry and exit. The KCSA urges Kyiv residents to take these restrictions into account when planning their routes and promises to provide updates on the full restoration of the red line as soon as possible. The photo shows a queue of passengers near the metro entrance, where an information board lists the red line stations.
Two Waves of Ballistic Strikes in a Single Night
According to Ukrainian authorities, Kyiv was struck by ballistic missiles twice overnight. The first attack occurred late in the evening on October 18: preliminarily, a medical center building in the Desnianskyi district was damaged, and one person was killed. During the second wave, missile debris damaged the left-bank metro station and severed nearby tracks, causing the temporary closure of parts of the red line.
Air Defense Shortage: A Worsening Problem
Amid repeated ballistic missile strikes, the issue of air defense capabilities is once again escalating in Ukraine. According to CNN, the country has once again run out of missiles for Patriot systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in turn, stated that the US is currently supplying Ukraine with only about 12 such missiles per month—a volume deemed insufficient to repel large-scale ballistic attacks.
The situation on the red line remains dynamic: the exact timeline for the full resumption of traffic across all stations depends on the pace of work to replace damaged rails and cable networks. The Kyiv City Administration urges residents to follow official updates and plan trips in advance to avoid delays during the morning rush hour.
