Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, experienced what officials described as the most extensive drone attack by Russia since the conflict began on Saturday. This resulted in five people wounded and widespread disturbances as air defenses engaged the assailants. The attack unfolded across different districts of Kyiv in the early hours, persisting as the sun rose, with the air raid warning lasting for six hours.
Initially, Ukraine’s air force reported that 71 out of 75 drones had been successfully shot down, but this count was later revised to 74. The majority of these drones, 66 in total, were taken down over Kyiv and its surrounding region, according to a spokesperson on television. Air force chief Mykola Oleschuk credited the effectiveness of ‘mobile fire’ units, typically fast pickup trucks equipped with machine guns or flak cannons, which were responsible for downing nearly 40% of the drones.
Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko, communicating on the Telegram app, reported that the attack resulted in injuries to five people, including an 11-year-old girl, and caused damage to buildings across various city districts. He mentioned a fire in a children’s nursery ignited by fragments from a downed drone.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy noted the timing of the attack, occurring in the early hours when Ukrainians commemorate the Holodomor famine of 1932-33, a significant national tragedy where millions perished. The specific target of the assault remains unclear, but recent warnings from Ukraine suggested Russia’s intention to launch an aerial campaign targeting Ukraine’s energy system, reminiscent of last winter.
Ukraine’s energy ministry reported that nearly 200 buildings in Kyiv, including 77 residential structures, were left without power as a consequence of the attack.
