Anniversary Drone Attack
One dead in Kiev in Russian night raids
05/28/2023, 07:30 am
The Ukrainian capital of Kiev is celebrating its founding anniversary today. For Russia, this is apparently a reason for further night air raids. At least 20 drones are shot down, Mayor Klitschko said.
The Ukrainian capital Kiev was again the target of “massive” drone attacks during the night. A civilian was killed by falling debris, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. In the Solomjanskyi district, debris from a drone fell near a gas station, Klitschko said on the Telegram messenger service. A 35-year-old woman was hospitalized with injuries and a 41-year-old man was dead. At least three other people were injured, according to the Kiev military administration.
Shortly before, he explained that the capital’s air defenses shot down “more than 20 drones” that were heading for the capital. The mayor described the renewed attack as “massive” and called on the population to stay in the shelters. He warned of another wave of drone strikes “coming from multiple directions at the same time.”
Fire after explosions
According to Klitschko, a fire also broke out in a company in Holosiivskyi district. Shortly after 02:00 a.m. local time (01:00 a.m. CEST), Klitschko reported the first explosions that would continue. Also due to debris from drones, fire broke out in several parts of the capital, including in a historic district.
Eyewitnesses report that during the air raid warnings, which sounded shortly after midnight on Sunday, many people stood on their balconies, some shouting “Glory to the air defenses”. The dawn attacks came on the last Sunday in May, when the capital celebrates Kyiv Day, the anniversary of its official founding 1,541 years ago. This day is usually marked with street parties, live concerts and special museum exhibitions, which are also planned for this year, albeit on a smaller scale.
The Ukrainian capital has been regularly attacked by Russia since May. The head of the military and civil administration, Serhiy Popko, had given the number of night attacks on Friday at 13 since the beginning of the month.