Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, has once again fallen victim to a significant overnight Russian drone attack, according to local officials. The assault has resulted in at least two fatalities and left 13 individuals injured, with numerous fires reported across the city. Authorities have confirmed that debris from the drones struck the roof of a residential building located in the central Shevchenkivskyi district.
Footage circulating on social media, although not yet verified by the BBC, depicts explosions lighting up the night sky as air defense units spring into action to repel the ongoing attack. In addition to the drone strikes, Ukraine's military has issued a warning regarding a potential threat of a ballistic missile attack. The situation escalated dramatically on Tuesday night, when Ukraine experienced its largest-ever aerial assault, involving 728 drones and 13 cruise and ballistic missiles targeting various cities across the nation in multiple waves.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, Kyiv's military administration reported that Russian drones targeted six city districts. The head of the administration, Tymur Tkachenko, noted in a post on Telegram that residential buildings, vehicles, warehouses, and office structures were engulfed in flames. Tragically, Tkachenko confirmed the loss of two lives, stating, "These people were killed by the Russians. This is a terrible loss."
Residents of the city have been advised to seek shelter until the air raid sirens have ceased. They are also urged to close their windows upon returning home due to the significant amount of smoke currently affecting the air quality in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Ukraine's air force has indicated that the threat of further Russian drone attacks persists in several regions of the country, although it remains unclear if there have been any casualties beyond the capital.
In related developments, Ukraine's emergency service, DSNS, reported late Wednesday that three individuals lost their lives in a separate Russian airstrike in the town of Kostiantynivka, which is located near the front lines in eastern Ukraine. Furthermore, according to a report from Reuters, the United States has resumed the shipment of certain weapons to Ukraine after a brief pause in the delivery of critical military supplies.
Since the onset of the conflict, following Russian President Vladimir Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the situation continues to evolve. The resilience of the Ukrainian people in the face of such adversities remains a focal point as the nation grapples with ongoing military threats.
