Residents of Kyiv are increasingly turning to social media channels that monitor Russian air activity to receive early warnings about possible missile and drone attacks, amid the limited time available to seek shelter.

One of the channels, Aeris Rimor, is run by a 19-year-old administrator known online as “Esko”, who provides real-time updates to about 150,000 followers. His identity and some operational details remain undisclosed for security reasons.

During a recent overnight attack witnessed by AFP journalists, Esko monitored a live map used by Ukrainian air defence units from his home. Shortly after an air raid alert was issued, he detected a missile heading towards Kyiv and immediately posted a warning to his followers.

Minutes later, explosions were heard across the Ukrainian capital.

Esko continued tracking incoming threats, identifying areas believed to be under attack and monitoring red icons representing Russian drones as Ukrainian forces attempted to intercept them.

The monitoring channels have become an important source of information for residents trying to decide whether to spend the night in shelters or remain at home. However, they operate in a legal grey area because some of the information they disseminate is obtained through contacts linked to Ukraine’s air force.

The urgency has increased as Russia increasingly uses ballistic missiles, which can reach Kyiv within minutes of an air raid warning, leaving residents with little time to react.

For many residents, the decision to seek shelter involves sacrificing a night’s sleep and enduring crowded conditions in metro stations or basements.

Others remain at home despite the potential danger, particularly those living in high-rise buildings in areas frequently targeted.

Kateryna Reshetnyk, 34, recently sought refuge in a Kyiv subway station with her mother and grandmother after consulting several Telegram channels she considered reliable.

She said residents could never be certain whether an attack would occur, leaving them to rely on available information, intuition and their instinct for survival.

Hundreds of other residents have adopted similar precautions, carrying mats, pillows and other belongings into underground stations while closely following updates on their phones.

Ukraine’s air force has acknowledged the existence of the monitoring channels but has warned operators against publishing sensitive information that could potentially assist Russian forces.

Air force spokesman Yuri Ignat said the authorities could not simply ban the channels because they provide information that some members of the public find useful.

For Esko, however, the role comes with considerable pressure. He spends long periods watching the movement of drones and missiles, often sleeping only a few hours.

Despite the strain, he says periods of uncertainty can be more difficult than nights of active attacks, as residents remain on edge while waiting for a strike that may or may not come.

The growing reliance on these channels reflects the difficult reality faced by Kyiv residents, who must make potentially life-saving decisions based on incomplete information and only minutes of warning.