Ukraine says Russia launched new drone attacks on three regions | News of war between Russia and Ukraine
The Ukrainian military says its defenses shot down 15 out of 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones overnight.
Russia has launched several waves of drone attacks on Ukraine’s Kyiv, Poltava and Cherkasy regions, stepping up its attacks on the Ukrainian capital after several weeks of respite, according to Ukrainian officials.
“The enemy’s UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicles] launched in many groups and attacked Kyiv in waves, from different directions, at the same time constantly changing movement vectors along the way,” said Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv military administration, in the message on the Telegram messaging app early on Sunday.
“That’s why air raid warnings were announced several times in the capital. “
Popko said preliminary information indicated that Ukrainian air defense systems shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones in Kyiv and the outskirts of the city.
There were no initial reports of “critical damage” or casualties, he said.
The Air Force of Ukraine said on its official Facebook page on Sunday morning that Russia attacked the Ukrainian territories from its Kursk region.
They said air defenses shot down 15 out of 20 drones that carried out the strikes.
The reports could not be independently verified and there was no immediate comment from Russia.
Strong Russian attacks are expected
Russia began carrying out strikes on Ukraine’s energy, military and transport infrastructure in October 2022, six months after Moscow’s troops failed to take over the capital and retreated to the east and southern Ukraine.
Last winter, Russia launched hundreds of missiles and drones in Ukraine, leaving millions without electricity, heat and water during the coldest months of the year – before reducing attacks in the summer.
After a 52-day pause, Moscow began airstrikes on Kyiv earlier this month. On Saturday, Ukrainian officials said that all drones heading for Kyiv had been destroyed, but that some had hit infrastructure facilities elsewhere in Ukraine.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other officials have warned that Russia will begin heavy bombing of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure during the winter months.
In his daily video message on Saturday night, Zelenskyy announced new measures to support Ukraine’s air defenses in the coming weeks.
“The closer we get to winter, the greater Russia’s efforts to mount its attacks,” Zelenskyy said.
