Ukraine Reports Russia Launched 67 Drones in Overnight Attack, According to Reuters

By Max Hunder

KYIV (Reuters) – On Saturday, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia initiated a significant overnight attack, launching a total of 67 long-range Shahed drones, of which 58 were successfully intercepted.

In a statement shared on Telegram, the air force indicated that air defense units were deployed in 11 regions throughout Ukraine to respond to the threat.

Debris from the drones was discovered near the parliament building in the capital, Kyiv, with the legislature releasing a separate statement featuring several photographs of the scene.

It’s uncommon for Russian missiles or drones to penetrate so deeply into central Kyiv, as the city is safeguarded by a network of both Soviet-era and modern Western-supplied air defense systems.

The government district in the city center is particularly fortified, housing the offices of the president, cabinet, and the central bank.

Photographs shared on Telegram depicted at least four pieces of debris scattered around the parliament building. One fragment was located at the base of the steps leading to the main entrance, while another piece appeared to be covered in shrapnel.

Reuters reporters in Kyiv reported hearing a series of explosions shortly after 3 a.m. local time, with some sounds resonating strongly in the city center, disturbing residents from their sleep.

Since the beginning of its invasion in February 2022, Moscow has conducted thousands of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine.

The Iranian-designed Shahed drone has been employed by Russia since September 2022 as a more cost-effective and disposable alternative to missiles, which are both expensive and challenging to produce.

The propeller-driven Shahed drone operates at speeds under 200 km per hour (125 miles per hour), making it difficult for standard air defense systems to track due to its low flying altitude and minimal heat emission compared to missiles.

Kyiv’s air force stated that the drones were launched from two regions near the border in Russia as well as from the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.