A view of Kiev, Ukraine.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Russia launched an airstrike on Kiev early Sunday, with explosions ringing through the Ukrainian capital and the region for nearly two hours and dropping drone debris on several of the city’s central districts, Ukrainian officials said.
The Ukrainian Land Forces said the country’s air defense systems had destroyed 25 of 32 Russian-launched Iranian-made Shahed drones, most of which targeted Kiev and the Kiev region.
Reuters witnesses heard at least five explosions across Kiev, and Ukrainian media footage showed a number of cars damaged.
“Drones entered the capital in groups and from different directions,” Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military city administration, said on the messaging app Telegram.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said one person was injured in the historic Podil district and a fire broke out near one of the city’s parks.
Debris from downed drones fell on the Darnytskyi, Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Podil districts, Klitschko and the city’s military administration said.
In the Shevchenkivskyi district, drone debris caused an apartment fire, which was quickly extinguished. There were no immediate reports of injuries, Popko said on the messaging app Telegram.
There was no immediate comment from Russia on the attacks. Moscow carries out almost nightly attacks on the territory of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said a Russian attack killed 17 people in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka on Wednesday.