Explosions resonated across Kyiv as Russia conducted a large-scale overnight attack on the city. Ukrainian officials reported that over a dozen drones were launched into the country’s airspace by Russia, prompting residents to seek shelter. This marked the second consecutive night the capital came under fire.
AFP journalists confirmed hearing explosions, and locals were urged to take cover as the city experienced aerial assaults for the second night in a row.
On Saturday, Ukraine’s air force stated that Russia had launched 14 ballistic missiles and 250 attack drones overnight, adding that they successfully downed six missiles and 245 drones.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv city’s military administration, confirmed early Sunday that “more than a dozen enemy drones” were in the airspace around the capital.
“New ones are also approaching. Some of the drones over Kyiv and the surrounding area have already been dealt with. But the new ones are still entering the capital,” he wrote on Telegram.
“The night will not be easy. There is a threat of the enemy using a large number of drones and missiles from strategic aircraft.”
He also reported that debris had fallen on a five-storey residential building.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that the city was “under attack” but assured citizens that “air defenses are operating,” urging them to “Stay in shelters!”
These successive overnight attacks are occurring even as Russia and Ukraine are in the process of their largest prisoner swap since the full-scale invasion by Moscow began in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Saturday evening that the attacks indicated Moscow was “prolonging the war” and reiterated his call for intensified sanctions.
According to announcements from both Kyiv and Moscow, 307 Russian prisoners of war were exchanged for an equal number of Ukrainian soldiers on Saturday. The initial phase of this large-scale swap involved 270 soldiers and civilians from each side on Friday.
