KYIV: Ukrainian forces said on Wednesday they had shot down an entire swarm of Iranian-made drones launched on the capital by Russian troops in their latest attack on Kyiv.
Explosions erupted over a central neighborhood in the early hours of Wednesday, the mayor said, and AFP reporters saw law enforcement and emergency services inspecting metal fragments on a snowy impact site.
“The terrorists started this morning with 13 chaheds,” the Ukrainian president said. Volodymyr Zelensky said, referring to Iranian-made weapons.
“According to preliminary information, all 13 were shot down by our Ukrainian air defense systems.”
He added that residents of the capital, who have now been subjected to almost ten months of air raid sirens and frequent air strikes since Russia invaded the country in February, should remain heedful of government warnings about impending attacks.
Kyiv region officials praised Ukrainian air defense and electronic warfare units for shooting down the latest wave of suicide drones.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said after the morning attacks that Kyiv could continue to count on Washington’s support.
“More support is on the way,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Fight Through the Winter”
Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on social media at 06:41 local time (0441 GMT) that “explosions” had been heard in the central Shevchenkivsky district and emergency services were responding.
“Debris from downed drones hit an administrative building and four other residential buildings suffered minor damage. No one was injured,” added Sergiy Popko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration.
Since a series of key battlefield setbacks this summer and fall, Russia has destroyed critical infrastructure across Ukraine with missiles and drones, plunging millions into winter cold and darkness. .
Last week, Moscow also targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, putting pressure on the country’s power grid, whose operators were forced for weeks to implement blackouts.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said this week that between 40 and 50 percent of the country’s power grid was out of service due to Russian strikes.
Wednesday’s latest round of attacks came a day after Zelensky issued urgent appeals to around 70 countries and international organizations at a conference in Paris to help Ukraine resist Russian attacks this winter.
In a video message from Kyiv, Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine needed around 800 million euros in short-term aid for its ailing energy sector.
He also said his country needed spare parts for repairs, large capacity generators, additional gas and increased electricity imports.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on Ukraine’s allies to provide his country with more weapons to help it “fight through the winter” and support Kyiv’s military advances.
Explosions erupted over a central neighborhood in the early hours of Wednesday, the mayor said, and AFP reporters saw law enforcement and emergency services inspecting metal fragments on a snowy impact site.
“The terrorists started this morning with 13 chaheds,” the Ukrainian president said. Volodymyr Zelensky said, referring to Iranian-made weapons.
“According to preliminary information, all 13 were shot down by our Ukrainian air defense systems.”
He added that residents of the capital, who have now been subjected to almost ten months of air raid sirens and frequent air strikes since Russia invaded the country in February, should remain heedful of government warnings about impending attacks.
Kyiv region officials praised Ukrainian air defense and electronic warfare units for shooting down the latest wave of suicide drones.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said after the morning attacks that Kyiv could continue to count on Washington’s support.
“More support is on the way,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Fight Through the Winter”
Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on social media at 06:41 local time (0441 GMT) that “explosions” had been heard in the central Shevchenkivsky district and emergency services were responding.
“Debris from downed drones hit an administrative building and four other residential buildings suffered minor damage. No one was injured,” added Sergiy Popko, head of the Kyiv regional military administration.
Since a series of key battlefield setbacks this summer and fall, Russia has destroyed critical infrastructure across Ukraine with missiles and drones, plunging millions into winter cold and darkness. .
Last week, Moscow also targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, putting pressure on the country’s power grid, whose operators were forced for weeks to implement blackouts.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said this week that between 40 and 50 percent of the country’s power grid was out of service due to Russian strikes.
Wednesday’s latest round of attacks came a day after Zelensky issued urgent appeals to around 70 countries and international organizations at a conference in Paris to help Ukraine resist Russian attacks this winter.
In a video message from Kyiv, Zelensky said on Tuesday that Ukraine needed around 800 million euros in short-term aid for its ailing energy sector.
He also said his country needed spare parts for repairs, large capacity generators, additional gas and increased electricity imports.
Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on Ukraine’s allies to provide his country with more weapons to help it “fight through the winter” and support Kyiv’s military advances.
