Russia has conducted one of the most extensive drone attacks on Ukraine since the war began, focusing on the region in and around the capital Kyiv. The Ukrainian military reported that all 89 drones fired during the attack were successfully shot down.
This assault represents the largest attack on Kyiv so far this year, marking the seventh time Russia has targeted the capital in the current month, as per military officials.
The attack, described as 'massive,' lasted over seven hours and occurred in two waves, with none of the drones reaching their intended targets, according to Kyiv officials.
No residential or critical infrastructure was hit, and there were no casualties reported in the Kyiv region. However, 13 houses sustained damage, and one fire caused by downed drones was extinguished by rescuers.
Video footage released by the Ukrainian Air Force depicted a drone on fire falling from the sky and landing in a field, resulting in a large cloud of smoke but no visible damage.
Additionally, Russia targeted Ukraine's Mykolaiv region with an X-59 guided missile from the airspace of the occupied Kherson region, which Ukraine also managed to shoot down. Nevertheless, separate attacks in eastern and southern Ukraine led to the deaths of at least two individuals on Wednesday morning.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk praised the air defense's successful repulsion of the drone attack, emphasizing the involvement of various military units in countering the assault.
Since a previous wave of aerial attacks before New Year's Eve, Ukraine has been urging allies to provide more air defense systems to enhance its protection against Russian strikes.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated the need for sufficient air defense systems to defend against Russian missiles and combat aircraft, emphasizing the importance of decisive actions from international partners.
The Biden administration recently announced a new lethal aid package for Ukraine amounting to approximately $1.7 billion, primarily comprising missiles and ammunition for missile, artillery, and air defense systems.
In southern Ukraine, a 68-year-old man was killed in a drone strike in Kherson, with a 73-year-old woman sustaining injuries. In the Donetsk region, one resident was killed in Toretsk, and four others were injured in separate attacks.
Ukraine's Armed Forces have vowed to continue targeting significant military sites of the Russian occupiers, claiming to have conducted a strike on a weapons and military equipment storage facility near Kursk, Russia.
The governor of Russia's Kursk region confirmed a fire at a facility following an attack by the Ukrainian armed forces.
