First comes the warning, that disembodied voice over the tannoy: "Your attention please. Air siren in the city. Please move to the shelter on the minus second floor." Then comes the mosquito-like whine of the incoming Russian drones, massing in their hundreds just above the clouds.
It's followed immediately by the rattle of anti-aircraft fire, the distant thud of explosions, then finally the ominous klaxon call of ambulance and fire sirens.
This is the grim reality of nighttime in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine.
These are attack drones that explode on impact.
Drones are now an integral part of modern warfare, but they are not confined to the battlefield.
Across western Europe, far from Ukraine, unarmed drones have also been found buzzing around airports, military bases and power plants, all part of a suspected programme of "hybrid warfare" being waged by Russia, with some speculating they're arriving to test the resilience of certain Nato countries that are helping Ukraine.
Drone sightings around critical infrastructure across Europe, including in Belgium, have sparked fear in a number of Nato countries
Recent drone sightings in Poland, along with a swathe spotted around critical infrastructure across Europe, including in Belgium and Denmark, have sparked fear across some Nato countries.
Now, there is talk that a "drone wall" is to be designed to protect parts of Europe - but just how necessary is this, really? And more pertinently, how realistic?
A wake-up call to Europe
On 9 September, around 20 Russian drones overshot Ukraine and flew into Poland, forcing the closure of four airports.
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