Russia’s military has claimed to have foiled a massive Ukraine drone raid on occupied Crimea involving some 26 UAVs. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence anti-air defence units took out all the Ukrainian drones in a dramatic incident lasting two hours.
These interceptions took place between 8:30 and 10:30 pm (1730-1930 GMT), according to a statement by Russian officials. Russian forces first captured and annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.
It comes as, Vladimir Saldo, the Moscow-installed governor of the partly Russian-held region of Kherson, announced on Telegram that Russian anti-aircraft units had successfully brought down at least 15 drones during a separate attack near the town of Henichesk.
According to Saldo, fragments of the downed UAVs had fallen to the ground. In either case, there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
Meanwhile, according to Ukrainian officials, a barrage of Russian missiles hit Kyiv on Wednesday, causing at least 53 injuries.
At 3 am, Kyiv was rocked by explosions as air defences were activated for the second time this week.
Russia launched ten ballistic missiles towards Kyiv, all of which were intercepted, but debris struck homes and a children’s hospital.
The threat of continued strikes remains as Russia is said to be amassing air-launched cruise missiles for use by its heavy bomber fleet, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
During the overnight missile attack, fragments of the intercepted missiles descended on Kyiv’s eastern Dniprovskyi district, injuring dozens, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Kitschko on Telegram.
Twenty people, including two children, were hospitalised, while 33 others received emergency medical care.
The attack’s aftermath resulted in numerous reports of collateral damage.
According to Klitschko, an apartment block, a private house and several cars caught fire, and the windows of a children’s hospital were shattered. Furthermore, falling rocket debris damagned the district’s water supply system.
