Ukrainian officials say air defenses intercepted several Russian drone suicide attacks on the capital Kiev.
“Russia has just launched a fierce airstrike on Kiev. The enemy has carried out several strikes in 3 hours, using squadrons of Shahed-style suicide drones (UAVs),” Serhiy Popko said. , head of the military service of the Ukrainian capital Kiev , said today.
Popko claimed that Ukraine’s air defense “intercepted all detected targets flying to Kiev”, but did not disclose the specific number of UAVs.
Ukraine’s air defense turned on its headlights to find Russian UAVs in the sky over Kiev on the night of May 19. Photo: Reuters
Anti-aircraft alarms were also activated earlier in several cities in the northern and western regions of Ukraine, such as Kharkov, Lviv, Chernivtsi and Khmelnitsky.
The Russian Ministry of Defense did not comment on the information.
Deputy Director of Ukraine’s General Department of Defense Intelligence Vadym Skibitsky said last week that Moscow is focusing on attacking many command centers, logistics lines and places where large amounts of ammunition, weapons, fuel and troops. Kiev’s preparations for a counterattack.
“The enemy pays special attention to air defense systems,” said the Ukrainian intelligence officer, adding that the Russian air force is intensifying attacks against targets on the front lines and in the vicinity.
Military Department of Ukraine. Graphics: WP
Natalia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for the Ukrainian army’s Southern Operations Command, said earlier this month that Russia is increasing the intensity of its airstrikes to assess and locate air defense complexes and try to erode defense networks.
The British military late last month also said that Russia was trying to destroy reserve units and a range of weapons that had just been delivered to Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense believes that the number of weapons used by Russia in recent attacks is lower than in winter attacks, probably not targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Vu Anh (according to AFP)
