On Saturday, Ukraine's air defence, along with mobile groups equipped for hunting drones, successfully intercepted and downed 30 out of 31 Russian drones operating in 11 different regions across the country, as reported by the air force. The engagement led to a series of explosions in the capital, Kyiv, where air defence units were actively countering the Russian drone threat, according to Reuters witnesses.
Serhiy Popko, the head of Kyiv's military administration, noted that this marked the sixth air attack on Kyiv in the current month. He highlighted that the enemy deployed Shahid drones on the capital, attacking in groups from various directions, following three days of ballistic threats. Despite the intensity of the drone attacks, Popko reassured that there were no casualties or significant damage reported in Kyiv.
The Ukrainian Air Force revealed that Russian military forces launched Iranian-made Shahed drones from three different directions within Russia, targeting regions in the central, northern, and southern parts of Ukraine. The air force, operating fighter jets, anti-aircraft missile units, and mobile drone hunter groups, successfully repelled the drone attack, as communicated through a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that anti-aircraft units were activated as groups of Russian drones approached the outskirts of the city, targeting areas near the city centre. The Darnytskyi district on the east bank of the Dnipro experienced heavy anti-aircraft activity, with explosions reaching the historic Podil district on the opposite bank.
Witnesses from Reuters confirmed hearing loud blasts just after midnight, with subsequent explosions continuing for approximately 45 minutes, affecting areas near Kyiv's central districts. The overnight air alerts, spanning multiple regions in Ukraine, persisted for about five hours.
The frequency of Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities and regions has been on the rise. Ukrainian authorities have expressed concerns that Russia may be deliberately targeting the nation's power and energy infrastructure, particularly during the critical winter months. Moscow, however, has consistently denied allegations of deliberately targeting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure.
