Russia Launches Major Drone Strikes Against Kyiv: Russia attacked the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, with drones again on Monday. The drones hit the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine building, setting it on fire.
One Person Killed
Vladimir Putin in Syria. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
Putin in Briefing. Image Credit: Russian Government.
Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko said that as a result of the attack on the academy, one person was killed and three were injured.
“A rescue operation is underway,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also noting that Russia would face a response for its attack. According to the Associated Press, at least seven people were killed, and more than 50 were injured in Russia’s campaign of mass drone attacks across Ukraine.
Russian drones attacked apartment buildings, offices, data centers, and other infrastructure. According to local authorities, a drone strike on an office building in Dnipro killed three people.
Kyiv Pummeled With Russian Drones
On Monday, September 28, Russia launched another wave of drone strikes on the capital of Ukraine. On Sunday, September 27, drones appeared several times over Kyiv during the day and night.
A drone attack on the Stolichny wholesale food market in Sofiiska Borshchahivka left two people dead and several injured. According to Ukrainian prosecutors, about 10 people were injured in the attack on the market. In addition, Mayor Klitschko noted that in Kyiv, nine people were injured as a result of Sunday’s attacks, including a child. Six people had to be hospitalized.
“In the Dniprovskyi district, debris has also fallen on a two-story non-residential building, causing a fire. Emergency services are en route to the scene,” the politician said via Telegram.
Zelenskyy noted that Russia’s drones had attacked “two kindergartens and two schools” in Kyiv on Sunday, alongside other civilian buildings.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the drone attack on Sunday involved 170 drones, among which were 76 jet-powered ones. It added that 147 drones were shot down or prevented from reaching their destination. Drones hit 18 points, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. This information was not confirmed by independent sources.
“Before, Shaheds used to fly lower — one or 1.5 kilometers (above ground), and we could work on them,” said a Ukrainian mobile air defense system operator known as ‘Racoon‘ in an interview with Reuters. “But jet-powered drones now fly at four, five, even seven kilometers. It’s not realistic for us to down them.”
Zelenskyy said that 277 drones, including 155 jet-powered drones, had been launched at Ukraine since Saturday. In addition, he noted that Russia had launched more than 2,200 attack drones, 1,650 aerial bombs, and 38 missiles at Ukraine in the last week.
Following a previous barrage last week, Zelenskyy called on the United States to respond promptly by supplying it with ballistic missile interceptors. After the meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on September 24, the Ukrainian leader noted that his country has developed effective defenses against cruise missiles and drones. “The only effective option is Patriot interceptors, which we need practically every day,” he stressed.
Jet-Powered Drones
The new drones pose a challenge to Ukraine’s defenses.
Reuters quoted Ukraine Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat as saying that while Ukraine’s air defenses were shooting down just 60% of jet-powered drones, they were shooting down 95% of older propeller-driven drones.
Communications Facilities Under Fire
In addition to the huge drone attacks on residential areas, Russia appears to be specifically trying to target Ukraine’s communications infrastructure.
On Sunday, Russian forces attacked the headquarters of Kyivstar, Ukraine’s largest mobile phone operator.
According to Kyivstar, no one was injured in the attack. At the same time, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have hit two data centers in Kyiv. In addition, Russia’s Defense Ministry noted that its forces had attacked logistics and transport facilities in Kyiv, which it described as having military significance.
Earlier attacks on communication facilities left about 100,000 households without Internet access.
Moscow has associated its attacks on Ukraine with attacks by Kyiv on Russian territory. “Ukraine will have to pay a price for the actions that have taken place in recent months,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “This is what is happening now.”
Ukraine has launched its own long-range drones against Russia, targeting oil depots and other sites linked to its war effort and economy.
As noted by Reuters, the problems for Ukraine’s air defenses are the speed of drones, daytime attacks, and the need to keep the defense system running for long periods.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
