UKRAINE/RUSSIA: Russia has increased its attacks on Kyiv in recent weeks, resulting in the deaths of two people and the injuries of numerous others. The 14th airstrike occurred as citizens celebrated Kyiv Day, the anniversary of the city’s founding more than 1,500 years ago.
People in Kyiv gathered in parks, pubs, and restaurants to commemorate the attack by drones. Vitaliy Klitschko called the attack “massive,” and structures, including a tobacco factory, caught fire after being struck by flying drone parts.
The online news source Ukrayinska Pravda reported that 26 residential structures, schools, and medical facilities were damaged in the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr. Military leaders claimed that 58 of the 59 Russian-launched drones of Iranian manufacture were downed by Ukraine’s air defence troops.
Zelensky praised his air force and said that “every time you shoot down enemy drones and missiles, lives are saved” and that most of the destruction was averted. He expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make it happen.
Anastasiia, a local of Kyiv, awoke from her sleep to the sound of a drone hovering close to her window. She saw a flash of light inside the flat and heard explosions as loud as thunder. She was looking to see if there was any harm, but was in shock and unable to discern if she was fine.
Russia has been using kamikaze drones and missiles to weaken Ukraine’s air defences in advance of its counteroffensive, and Ukraine is prepared to begin such an operation.
An offensive to recover land from President Vladimir Putin’s occupying forces might start “tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, or in a week,” according to Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of the influential National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine. Ukraine has been preparing for a counterattack for months but has sought as much time as possible to prepare and collect military supplies from the West. Russian forces have started setting up their defences in the south-eastern Ukrainian territories they have taken control of.
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