Ukraine confronts 'most massive' drone attack on Kyiv since invasion commencement, downing 71 drones

Ukraine has reported a significant drone attack on its capital, Kyiv, marking it as the most extensive assault since the initiation of the conflict. Ukrainian authorities claim to have downed 71 Russian attack drones during the overnight attack, with the majority of them Iranian-made Shahed drones.

The assault caused power outages in central Kyiv amid freezing temperatures. This incident coincided with Holodomor Remembrance Day, dedicated to commemorating the 1930s famine in Ukraine under Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin.

Kyiv city officials characterized the attack as the most substantial since the full-scale invasion commenced in February 2022, resulting in five injuries, ranging from an 11-year-old to a 65-year-old.

During the six-hour air raid alert, Kyiv Mayor Vitalis Klatsch stated that falling drone debris ignited fires and inflicted damage across the city. Ukraine’s energy ministry reported a disruption in power supply to 77 residential buildings and 120 facilities, attributing it to damage on an overhead line.

While the primary target was Kyiv, the Ukrainian army revealed that air defense measures were activated in southern Ukraine, successfully intercepting a guided missile over the central Dnipropetrovsk region. Power cuts extended beyond Kyiv, affecting the broader region.

As tensions escalate, Kyiv expressed concerns about a potential Russian campaign targeting its energy grid, particularly as winter approaches. The aftermath of the drone attack underscores the city’s vulnerability to power disruptions, reminiscent of the previous year’s incidents that left thousands without heat or light in freezing conditions.

In a symbolic twist, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted the significance of the attack occurring on Holodomor Remembrance Day, describing it as an attempt by Russia to instill fear.

Zelensky emphasized the deliberate nature of Holodomor, attributing it to Soviet agricultural policies, a claim Moscow vehemently denies. The Ukrainian president denounced the ongoing Russian attacks, connecting them to uncondemned past crimes and urged the international community for increased support in the face of the Russian invasion.