KYIV: Kiev was attacked by Russian drones early Sunday, with debris falling in several districts, Ukrainian officials say, but no casualties were reported.
At least 10 explosions were heard in the capital and air raid sirens signaled that residents should take cover. Later, everything became clear.
The head of Kyiv’s military administration, Serhiy Popko, said the debris started a fire in a residential building, but it was put out.
On Sunday, city authorities named the affected districts as Podilskyi, Sviatoshynskyi and Shevchenkivskyi, all in or near the city center. Kyiv’s air defence system has proven effective in shooting down most of the Russian drones and missiles aimed at the city.
Popko said about 20 Iranian-made Shahed attack drones were shot down on Sunday. They flew over Kiev in groups from several directions, he said.
Most of the debris fell on open ground, he added, but some damaged cars and trolley cables.
Meanwhile, Russia says it has destroyed eight drones launched by Ukraine over the Black Sea near the Crimean peninsula – which Russian forces have occupied since 2014. The drones are also called unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Drones reportedly from Ukraine have previously flown deep into Russia, including the Moscow region, and recently struck aircraft at a military air base in Pskov. But Ukrainian officials usually neither confirm nor deny their participation in such raids.
Russia’s Defence Ministry also says its naval aircraft destroyed three Ukrainian military motorboats that were heading for Crimea. U.S.-made boats carrying Marines were hit northeast of Snake Island, the agency said.
The BBC has not verified the claim, which comes just days after Russia said it had destroyed four Ukrainian motorboats off Crimea.
Earlier, Ukraine’s new defense minister, Rustem Umerov, called on Western allies to stay the course and continue supplying weapons to win the war.
“We are grateful for all the support given… We need more heavy weapons,” he said. “We need them today. We need them now.”
In his appeal, he said that “Ukrainian warriors today sacrifice their lives for the basic values of democracy and freedom” and “need your support.”
