Kyiv - In recent developments, Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, experienced intensified drone attacks by Russia. According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russia launched a record number of 54 kamikaze drones, with 52 of them being successfully shot down.
A man lost his life and a woman was injured when drone wreckage fell near a petrol station reoprted Associated Press. The falling drone fragments also caused two high-rise buildings in different districts of Kyiv to catch fire. Additionally, warehouses in the southern Holosiyivsky district were reported to be set ablaze.
Over 40 drones were downed over the capital overnight, as reported by Ukrainian officials. However, this information has not been independently verified. Despite the destruction caused, President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the air defense and rescue services, acknowledging their heroic efforts in protecting lives and intercepting enemy drones and missiles.
A Kyiv resident named Anastasiia shared her experience of being woken up by the sound of a drone flying near her window. She witnessed a series of bright flashes of light followed by loud explosions, which left her in shock. Anastasiia only realized she was unharmed when she heard car alarms outside her window. She emphasized the importance of appreciating every moment of life.
Some officials have accused Russia of deliberately targeting Kyiv, especially as the city was preparing to celebrate Kyiv Day, which commemorates the city's foundation over 1,500 years ago. Air raid alerts were activated in multiple regions of Ukraine, and there were reports of explosions in Zhytomyr, west of Kyiv.
Russia has been using kamikaze drones, as well as cruise and ballistic missiles, in its attacks on Kyiv and other areas. These attacks have been increasing in frequency as Ukraine prepares for a counter-offensive. Ukraine's Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, Oleksiy Danilov, stated that the country is ready to launch such an operation to retake territory from Russian occupying forces.
Both sides have seen an escalation in drone attacks, with Russia targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure and military targets. Ukraine, in turn, has been targeting key locations in the regions occupied by Russian forces, aiming to disrupt command and control sites and logistical supply lines.
The situation remains tense, and the possibility of further escalation and a new dimension to the conflict is a concern. Russia's ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, warned that the supply of weapons to Ukraine could further escalate the war beyond current levels, emphasizing that such escalation is neither desired nor wanted.