Russia launched two waves of drones over Kyiv late Thursday night, marking the 15th drone strike on the Ukrainian capital in October alone, Ukrainian officials reported.
Lasted Four Hours
The assault, lasting about four hours, saw over a dozen drones intercepted over the city, according to Kyiv’s military administrator, Serhii Popko.
According to Digi24 Popko confirmed, in a statement on Telegram, that debris from downed drones caused a fire that was quickly extinguished, adding that no injuries were reported.
Early Friday morning, Reuters correspondents on the ground reported hearing multiple explosions as Ukraine’s air defense systems intercepted incoming drones.
Destroyed More Than Half
In total, Ukrainian air forces managed to destroy 36 of the 63 drones launched by Russia across multiple regions overnight, including key interceptions over Kyiv and Odesa.
For an additional 16 drones, signals were lost, making their impact uncertain, Ukraine’s air force noted. The volume of drones used in this latest wave highlights Russia’s increased reliance on unmanned aerial systems for regional strikes.
While Moscow has consistently denied targeting civilians, its frequent drone and missile strikes have hit cities far from the front lines, drawing ongoing international scrutiny.
Russia’s drone attacks have been a growing strain on Ukraine’s air defenses, as Moscow has ramped up its deployment of Shahed drones, reportedly supplied by Iran.
These low-cost drones can be deployed in large swarms, complicating air defense efforts. Ukrainian cities, particularly Kyiv, remain highly targeted by Russian drone and missile operations, making Kyiv’s defenses critical to the city’s safety.
