Kyiv experienced widespread damage after debris from intercepted Russian drones rained down on the city during an air raid that lasted over five hours. Russian forces reportedly launched 71 Shahed drones toward the Ukrainian capital on Saturday night, with Ukraine’s air force intercepting or redirecting most of them. According to the Kyiv City Military Administration, wreckage from downed drones fell across six city districts, hitting residential buildings and causing a fire in a 16-story apartment and office complex, damaging the top floors.
The attacks also impacted a high-voltage line providing power to Kyiv, though most services have since been restored by Ukrainian energy provider DTEK, which continues to work on full repairs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the repeated use of Shahed drones, stating that they have become a key element of what he called “Russian terror.” He reported similar drone strikes in other Ukrainian regions, including Poltava, Sumy, and Kharkiv, highlighting that Russia has increased its offensive pressure.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, emphasized the need for a steady flow of resources to counter what he described as one of Russia’s most significant offensives since the invasion began.