KYIV, Ukraine — Over the weekend, the Ukrainian capital faced a significant assault from Russian forces, which involved a considerable number of drones and missiles, resulting in the deaths of at least three individuals. Concurrently, Ukraine conducted strikes that ignited fires at several industrial sites in Russia.
In the early hours of Saturday, Russian forces launched an attack that consisted of 39 Shahed drones, various simulator drones, and four ballistic missiles, as reported by Ukraine’s Air Force. Ukrainian air defense succeeded in intercepting two missiles and 24 drones, while an additional 14 drone simulators were also taken down at their targets, according to their statement.
The Kyiv City Military Administration reported that three people lost their lives and three others suffered injuries in the onslaught. Initially, a fourth potential victim was thought to have died, but this claim has not yet been verified. The confirmed deceased include two men aged 43 and 25, as well as a 41-year-old woman, according to officials.
Additionally, the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general revealed that those affected included a security guard working at a food establishment and passengers on a minibus caught in the strike. Eyewitness accounts from the scene described a deceased man surrounded by debris and blood. Firefighters managed to control the blaze that ensued from the attack, while streets in the vicinity became inundated with water.
Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, reported broken windows in the Shevchenkivskyi district and noted the presence of smoke at the entrance of a residential building. He also mentioned that a water supply pipeline had sustained damage. The Lukyanivska metro station had to be temporarily closed due to the damage to its glass entrance but was subsequently reinstated for service.
The conflict extended beyond Kyiv, with numerous regions across Ukraine, such as Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, Zhytomyr, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, and Donetsk, also reporting missile and drone interceptions.
In a separate incident, ten individuals were injured when a Russian missile struck residential buildings and private vehicles in the regional center of Zaporizhzhia. Local governor Ivan Fedorov indicated that eight victims, aged from 28 to 69, were taken to hospitals, including one 48-year-old woman in serious condition.
On the other hand, Ukrainian drone attacks resulted in fires at industrial sites in Russia’s Kaluga and Tula regions. Local officials reported these incidents on Saturday.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 46 Ukrainian drones were eliminated in overnight operations across various parts of the country.
In Kaluga, a drone strike reportedly caused a fire in the town of Lyudinovo, as confirmed by Governor Vladislav Shapsha on Telegram. Residents speculated on social media that the assault had aimed at a local oil depot. In a similar vein, the Tula region also experienced a fire where Governor Dmitry Milyaev reported that a fuel storage tank had ignited, urging locals to steer clear of fallen drone remnants. No casualties were reported in these incidents.
