Russia launches ‘most massive’ drone attack on Ukraine since invasion began, says Kyiv military

On an early Saturday morning, Russia initiated a significant drone assault on Ukraine, the most severe since the conflict began in 2022. The Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, was the primary focus of the attack. Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported on social media that out of 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones launched, 74 were successfully intercepted by Ukraine's air defenses. Serhii Popko, who leads the Kyiv city administration, described the event as the largest drone attack on the city to date.

The timing of the attack coincided with Holodomor Memorial Day, a day of remembrance for the millions who perished in a famine in Soviet Ukraine between 1932 and 1933. The Kyiv authorities noted the symbolic nature of the attack occurring on such a day. President Zelensky expressed his outrage on social media, condemning the Russian leadership for their actions. He drew parallels between the historical famine, which Ukraine attributes to deliberate policies by the Soviet Union, and the current aggression. Moscow, however, disputes this interpretation. The drone strikes resulted in civilian injuries, including an 11-year-old child, and damage to infrastructure, including a kindergarten.

The drone strikes began at 4 am and lasted for over six hours, disrupting power supply to numerous buildings and institutions. Ukraine's energy ministry reported that 17,000 people were left without electricity due to the attack. President Zelensky acknowledged the efforts of the Ukrainian forces in shooting down most of the drones and emphasized the ongoing work to enhance air defense capabilities. The attack extended beyond Kyiv, with several other regions also targeted. As winter approaches, Ukraine is bracing for further assaults on its energy infrastructure, recalling the hardships of the previous year. The conflict is currently most intense in the eastern part of Ukraine, particularly around the city of Avdiivka. Zelensky criticized Russia for its unrepentant stance on past atrocities, suggesting that such denial serves as an inadvertent admission of guilt. With the international focus partly diverted to the Israel-Gaza conflict, Ukraine continues to appeal for more support to defend against the Russian offensive.