On November 25, in the largest drone assault on Kyiv since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion last year, over 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones were launched at the capital, according to the city’s mayor Vitaliy Klitschko. The pre-dawn attack, which lasted over six hours, saw wave after wave of drones approaching from the north and east, their engines whining in the night sky, blending with the booms of the city’s air defences.
Of the drones launched, 74 were successfully intercepted and shot down. These drones, slower than ballistic missiles and with a distinctive wingspan, are seen as a cost-effective alternative given Russia’s dwindling missile stocks.
Despite the successful interception of the majority of the drones, the falling debris poses its own lethal threat. While there have been no reported fatalities from this attack, at least five individuals, including an 11-year-old child, were injured. A kindergarten was among the structures damaged in the attack.
"It is impossible to forget, understand and especially forgive the horrific crimes of genocide that the Ukrainian people experienced in the 20th century," Zelensky said as he marked another annual Remembrance Day of the starvation, amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
This assault follows a period of relative calm during which Moscow was suspected of amassing missiles. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the strikes as an act of “wilful terror” and reaffirmed his commitment to rallying global support against Russian aggression. He also reiterated his efforts to negotiate Ukraine’s potential membership in the European Union.
The attack coincided with Ukraine’s commemoration of the 1932-1933 Holodomor famine, a tragedy orchestrated by Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin that resulted in the deaths of several million Ukrainians.
As winter intensifies, concerns have arisen that Russia may once again target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. This appears to be the case with 16,000 homes in the central Kyiv region left without power. However, previous attempts to deprive Ukrainians of essential utilities have proven unsuccessful, with authorities quickly repairing damaged pipes and powerlines.
Despite improvements in Ukraine’s air defences, the impact of such strikes is still profound, causing destruction, spreading fear, and disrupting lives.
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