Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky saluted on Sunday “heroes” of air defense who fought against the biggest drone attack on Kiev since the start of the Russian invasion, according to Ukrainian military authorities.
“Every time we shoot down enemy ‘drones’ and missiles, lives are saved (…). You are our heroes,” Zelensky thanked, in a message posted on the Telegram social network.
Ukrainian military officials said they had destroyed 52 of the 54 explosive-laden drones launched by Moscow into the country since Saturday night until today, including “more than 40” in the capital alone.
“In total, there was a record number of explosive ‘drones’ launched: 54!” The Ukrainian air force confirmed on the Telegram social network, claiming to have “destroyed 52”.
So far, authorities have reported two deaths and three injuries in kyiv.
“This is the most important drone attack against the capital since the beginning of the Russian invasion,” lamented the regional military administration on Telegram, adding that “it occurred in several waves and the air alert lasted more than five hours.”
According to preliminary data, more than 40 Russian drones were destroyed by air defense over kyiv, according to the regional military administration.
According to the regional administration, “following the destruction of the Russian ‘drones’ (…) debris fell on a seven-story building” in the Golosiïvskiï district, killing one person and injuring another.
The rubble also caused a fire in the area of a warehouse, which spread over more than 1,000 square meters and one person was injured at the scene, according to the same source.
“Emergency services are everywhere,” regional authorities said.
In Solomiansky district, “due to falling drone debris near a fuel pump, a 35-year-old woman was hospitalized and a 41-year-old man died,” Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
“Today the enemy decided to ‘congratulate’ the inhabitants (of the capital) on Kiev Day with the help of their ‘killer drones,'” regional authorities mocked, referring to the city’s holiday, which is celebrated today.
This is the 14th Russian drone attack in kyiv since early May, according to authorities.
A total of 54 explosive drones were launched “from the Bryansk and Krasnodar regions” in Russia, said the Ukrainian air force, which was pleased to have intercepted 52 of the unmanned devices.
According to the Ukrainian air force, Russia was particularly targeting “military installations and critical infrastructure in the central regions of the country, in particular the kyiv region.”
Source: TSF
