KIEV, Sept 14 (Askume) – Russia launched new drone attacks on Kiev and other Ukrainian cities overnight on Saturday, prompting fresh calls from President Volodymyr Zelensky to strengthen air defence and long-range capabilities.
The Ukrainian Air Force said Ukrainian air defence systems shot down 72 of the 76 Shaheed drones in 12 regions across the country’s central, southern and eastern regions.
Zelensky, who will visit the United States later this month, said on the Telegram messaging app: “We need more capabilities to strengthen the air defence shield, air defence and long-range capabilities to continue to protect lives and our people.”
There were no immediate reports of casualties, but officials described damage to buildings in many parts of the country.
Kiev city officials said debris from a drone fell on a municipal building in the Obolon district, north of the city’s city centre early Saturday, but there was no fire at the scene.
The governor of the region surrounding Kiev said debris from the drone damaged several private homes and a commercial property and also broke windows of a high-rise residential building.
In the southern Odessa area, debris damaged several commercial buildings and private residences and caused several fires.
Air sirens sounded for three to five hours during the night in many parts of Ukraine. Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said air defense units were operating in the capital at night. Ukraine has also deployed mobile drone hunting teams and used electronic warfare to thwart persistent Russian drone attacks.
During the nearly 31-month war, Moscow’s forces have bombarded Ukraine with thousands of drones and missiles, killing thousands of civilians, damaging the country’s infrastructure and power sector and destroying thousands of homes and commercial buildings.
Moscow denies deliberately targeting civilians and says its long-range strikes are aimed at weakening Ukraine’s fighting capabilities.
