A wave of catastrophic drone strikes initiated by Russia has swept over Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, causing extensive devastation and loss of life, according to official sources. These deadly strikes ignited fires throughout the city, drawing attention from across the globe.
The strikes began in the late hours of Saturday and extended into the early hours of Sunday. Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, reported that Ukraine’s air defense forces successfully neutralized over 20 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) aimed at the city. Despite these countermeasures, Klitschko signaled an impending risk of more drone assaults.
It was later verified by the Ukrainian Air Force that 54 Iranian Shahed drones were dispatched by Russia overnight. Of these, Ukrainian forces effectively brought down 52. In a Twitter announcement, the military stated that the enemy initiated “an overnight assault on military facilities and vital infrastructure in the country’s central regions, specifically Kyiv Oblast.”
The aftermath of these drone strikes has cast a shadow of fear over the city. A man aged 41 in Kyiv’s Solomyanskyi district unfortunately lost his life, becoming the first casualty in Kyiv since the start of the drone assaults. A 35-year-old woman also sustained injuries due to falling drone fragments at a petrol station, as confirmed by the Mayor.
The debris from the destroyed drones sparked fires in various buildings across the capital, lighting up the night sky ominously. Klitschko detailed the incident via his Telegram channel, stating that firefighters had successfully managed a blaze spreading across 700 square meters (7,534 square feet). Nonetheless, an area of 1,000 square meters witnessed severe property damage.
Adding to the unsettling developments, the historic Pecherskyi district, considered the soul of Kyiv, was not spared. Here, fallen drone fragments ignited a fire on the rooftop of a nine-story building, intensifying the turmoil and wreckage gripping the capital.
Simultaneously, the southern city of Nikopol experienced its share of chaos due to heavy artillery bombardment by Russian forces, a disturbing revelation by Serhii Lysak, head of the Dnipropetrovsk region’s military administration.
“The aggressor targeted civilians again with heavy artillery. Nikopol was attacked twice overnight, resulting in the damage of six private residences and two annexes,” said Lysak in a distressing Telegram message. This merciless attack also caused extensive damage to a gas and main power line. Remarkably, no loss of life was reported from these incidents.
This persistent onslaught on Ukrainian cities reveals a bleak portrait of the ongoing conflict. As the global community watches with trepidation, the bravery and fortitude of the Ukrainian people come to the forefront. Although the immediate future is filled with uncertainty, one thing remains apparent: Ukraine’s spirit stands strong and undeterred in the face of these horrifying assaults.
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