Drone attacks leave one dead
Russia fired the biggest wave of drones of the war on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, yesterday, leaving at least one person dead.
A 41-year-old man died after fragments from a drone that was shot down fell to the ground, according to Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, and the city’s military administration. The first wave of explosions, including three that damaged buildings across the city, came shortly after 2am local time, according to Mr Klitschko. The air-raid warning was lifted about 6am local time.
Russia has intensified its focus on Kyiv in May, unleashing its biggest and most sustained attack there since at least March, with near-nightly volleys of missiles and drones. Yesterday’s attack, the 14th this month, appeared to be the first deadly one in May. Ukraine’s air defences destroyed more than 40 drones, the most fired at Kyiv in one night, the city’s military administration said on Telegram.
Ukraine’s armed forces have become adept at intercepting the Russian barrages, often shooting down dozens of drones and missiles. As of this month, Ukraine has been using US-made Patriot anti-missile systems, one of the most advanced air defence systems, as part of its growing arsenal of weapons.
In a show of just how skilled Ukraine’s armed forces have become, its air defence system shot down Kinzhals aimed at Kyiv earlier this month on more than one occasion, according to Ukrainian and US officials. The weapon is one of Russia’s most sophisticated conventional weapons. And while some analysts have cast doubt on the abilities of the Kinzhal, Ukraine’s defence against them demonstrates a great capability to withstand Russia’s arsenal, which includes Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones.
On Saturday, Ukraine’s top military commander, Gen Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, signalled that the nation’s armed forces were ready to launch their counteroffensive, but stopped short of declaring an official start to it. In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have grown bolder and attacked deeper into Russian territory, trading drone and missile attacks.