Russian ‘kamikaze drones’ strike Kyiv: Ukraine

KYIV: Ukraine mentioned on Monday (Oct 17) that Russia had attacked Kyiv with a swarm of “kamikaze drones”, in what the president’s workplace mentioned was an act of desperation almost eight months into Russia’s invasion.

An AFP journalist in Kyiv noticed drones swooping low over a central district of the capital as cops fired at them with computerized weapons and smoke rising from explosions throughout the town.

The assault comes precisely one week after Russia launched an enormous two-day salvo of missile strikes over cities throughout Ukraine that disrupted vitality and water provides nationwide.

“They appear to be hitting us each Monday now,” mentioned taxi driver Sergiy Prikhodko, who was ready for a fare close to the central prepare station in Kyiv.

“It is a new manner of beginning the week,” he informed AFP.

Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv shortly earlier than the primary explosion at round 6.35am native time, adopted by sirens throughout many of the nation.

“All evening and all morning, the enemy terrorises the civilian inhabitants. Kamikaze drones and missiles are attacking all of Ukraine. The enemy can assault our cities, but it surely will not be capable to break us,” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned.

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko mentioned a residential constructing within the central Shevchenkivsky district of the capital had been hit. He mentioned 18 individuals had been rescued however two individuals have been nonetheless trapped below the rubble.

“MORE AIR DEFENCES”

The pinnacle of the nationwide railways, Alexander Kamyshin, confirmed earlier assaults “close to” the capital’s central rail hub.

“We want extra air defence methods and as quickly as attainable. Extra weapons to defend the sky and destroy the enemy,” Zelensky’s chief of employees, Andriy Yermak, mentioned on social media.

“The Russians suppose it would assist them but it surely exhibits their desperation,” he additionally wrote.

The Ukrainian army mentioned Russian drones and missiles have been concentrating on cities and cities throughout the nation. It estimated that Russian forces had fired two missiles and 26 air strikes, and carried out greater than 80 rocket assaults.

“Up to now 13 hours, the Ukrainian army shot down 37 Iranian Shahed-136 drones and three cruise missiles launched by Russian terrorists,” the defence ministry mentioned in a separate assertion.