Russia launches overnight drone attack on Kyiv

AFP

Russia fired nearly three dozen drones at Kyiv early on Sunday, with blasts ringing out across the Ukrainian capital and the surrounding region for around two hours and debris falling across several city districts, Ukrainian officials said.

Ukraine's air force said the military destroyed 26 out of 33 drones launched by Russia, all of which targeted Kyiv and the region around it.

Reuters witnesses heard at least five explosions across Kyiv, where the nighttime sky was illuminated by blasts from air defences engaging the targets. 

Fragments from downed drones fell on five different districts, said Mayor Vitali Klitschko and the city's military administration. Klitschko said one person had been injured.

The state emergency service later reported that debris had fallen in three districts but that there was no serious damage.

Kyiv region Governor Ruslan Kravchenko wrote on Facebook that an unspecified infrastructure facility and eight houses had been damaged as a result of the overnight strikes.

There was no immediate comment from Russia about the attacks. Moscow has conducted regular air strikes on Ukrainian population centres far from the eastern and southern front lines of its 18-month-old invasion.

A Russian attack killed 17 people on Wednesday in the eastern city of Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian officials said.

More from International

  • Egypt says Gaza reconstruction plan ready

    Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said on Sunday the Egyptian Gaza reconstruction plan, which ensures Palestinians remain in their land, is ready and will be presented to the emergency Arab summit on March 4.

  • UK, France working with Ukraine on plan to end fighting: Starmer

    Britain and France are working with Ukraine on plans to end the fighting with Russia, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Sunday, as European leaders gathered for crisis talks after a blowout between Kyiv and Washington.

  • Israel halts all entry of aid into Gaza

    Israel blocked the entry of aid trucks into Gaza on Sunday as a standoff over the truce that has halted fighting for the past six weeks escalated, with Hamas calling on Egyptian and Qatari mediators to intervene.

  • At least 33 dead in Bolivia bus accident

    A crash involving two buses in Bolivia left at least 33 people dead and several injured in the western Potosi region, police and local authorities said on Saturday.

  • Zelenskyy says Ukraine should be heard, not forgotten

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday it was "very important" that Ukraine's plight was heard and not forgotten, a day after a heated White House meeting with US President Donald Trump.