Ukrainian Air Force intercepts 71 drones, as Kyiv experiences its largest drone attack since the war began.
In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched its most extensive drone attack on Kyiv since the onset of the conflict, Ukrainian officials reported on Saturday. The Ukrainian Air Force revealed that nearly 75 Shahed drones were deployed from two directions – Primorsko-Akhtarsk and the Kursk region.
The attack, described as a “record number” of drones, primarily targeted the capital city of Kyiv. Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepted 71 of the Iranian-made drones across six regions, with the majority being neutralized in the Kyiv region.
Ukraine’s Air Force detailed the involvement of anti-aircraft missile troops, tactical aviation, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare units in repelling the air assault. Despite the successful interception, a Kh-59 guided missile was reportedly destroyed in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Mykhailo Shamanov, spokesperson for the Kyiv city military administration, reported multiple waves of drones approaching the capital from different directions. Residents were urged to seek shelter as the city experienced loud explosions and repeated bangs from the buzzing drones.
This marks the fourth drone attack on Kyiv this month, with at least two people reported injured in Kyiv’s Solomianskyi district, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko. Fires broke out in several locations, including a residential building, non-residential premises, and a kindergarten in the Solomianskyi district.
The attack disrupted power supply in Kyiv, cutting off power to 77 residential buildings and 120 establishments in the city center, according to the country’s energy ministry. However, Ukrainian energy company DTEK later announced the restoration of power to all Kyiv residents.
In a separate statement, Serhii Popko, the head of the Kyiv city military administration, disclosed that a fire broke out on the premises of a kindergarten following the downing of a drone in the Solomianskyi district.
While concerns persist about energy security, DTEK has spent the last seven months restoring infrastructure, increasing output, and enhancing defenses at its facilities. The deputy chief of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence, Vadym Skibitsky, noted that Russia may find it more challenging to disrupt the country’s energy grid this time.
Citizens are also taking precautions, with a surge in demand for off-the-grid solutions. A company specializing in energy storage systems has witnessed increased interest, while businesses and individuals are investing in generators and secondary batteries in anticipation of potential power grid disruptions.
