Russia launches massive drone strike on Kiev as city prepares to celebrate installation

Russian forces bombed the Ukrainian capital Kiev overnight in what local officials described as the biggest suicide drone attack since Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of the country 15 months ago.

Officials said Ukraine’s air defense systems shot down 58 or 59 incoming drones launched against Ukrainian targets in the early hours of Sunday, with 40 downed in Kiev alone. The attack occurred as the city was preparing for the annual Kiev Day celebrations held to mark its founding.

“This was the largest drone attack on the capital since the start of the full-scale invasion,” Serhiy Popko, head of Kiev’s military administration, said in a statement. “(It) was the 14th airstrike on the capital since the beginning of May,” he said.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said in a statement: “A record number of enemy strike UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) were destroyed tonight. The vast majority – in the Kiev region.

He said: “Only fragments remain from the ‘gifts’ sent by the occupiers on Kiev Day.”

Air raid sirens were followed by the sound of drone engines, followed by machine guns, surface-to-air defense systems and fighters trying to intercept them.

Officials reported damage throughout the city. One person died and two others were hospitalized after debris from a downed drone hit a seven-story non-residential building.

On the southern outskirts of Kiev’s downtown Pechersky district, some debris fell on a five-story residential building, destroying the roof and causing masonry to come crashing down onto the street below. There was no information about any casualty.

A family narrowly escaped injury when debris from the ceiling fell into their bedroom. “We woke up after the air raid sirens sounded and went into the hallway,” said the mother, standing outside with her crying daughter and son-in-law.

Ukrainian officials said airstrikes and artillery shelled 12 regions of Ukraine in the past 24 hours, including border areas in the east and south as well as Zhytomyr west of Kiev.

Ukraine’s air defense capabilities have been significantly increased by the supply of NATO-grade systems since late last year, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has continued to request for more. He praised the country’s air defense forces and rescue workers in a social media post on Sunday, saying, “You are our heroes.” “Every time you shoot down enemy drones and missiles, a life is saved.”

Russia launched massive missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure late last year, causing widespread blackouts throughout autumn and winter. After an early spring lull, airstrikes have intensified again as Ukraine prepares to launch a counteroffensive in an attempt to regain territory in the east and south of the country.

Valery Zaluzny, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, indicated on Saturday that the start of retaliation was imminent, posting on social media that “the time has come to take back what is ours”.

The post included a video of soldiers training, who vowed to “destroy” the enemy and called upon God to “bless our decisive assault”.