800 Drones Target Ukraine.. Zelensky Discusses One of the Largest Attacks on His Country

SadaNews - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia launched at least 800 drones in intensive attacks targeting around 20 regions in Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of at least 6 people, while officials in the Ukrainian capital announced that Kyiv was subjected to a large Russian attack with drones and missiles early today, Thursday.

Russian daily attacks on Ukrainian cities resumed on Monday night-Tuesday after a three-day ceasefire was agreed upon to commemorate the end of World War II.

Zelensky described this attack as "one of the longest and largest Russian attacks against Ukraine," explaining - via Telegram - that the attack began in the mid-morning and lasted for hours in the capital Kyiv, the western city of Lviv near Poland, and the port city of Odesa on the Black Sea, in addition to other populated centers.

Coinciding with Trump's Visit to Beijing

Zelensky added, "Our soldiers are defending Ukraine, but Russia's clear goal is to overwhelm the air defenses." He warned that an attack with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles could follow the drone barrage.

Zelensky considered that Russia deliberately intensified its bombing to coincide with U.S. President Donald Trump's visit to China, stressing that "it cannot be considered a coincidence that one of the largest and longest attacks on Ukraine coincides with the U.S. president's visit to China."

He renewed his call for allies to "apply real pressure" on Moscow to stop these attacks.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on residents to take shelter via the Telegram platform, noting that "the enemy is attacking Kyiv with drones and ballistic missiles," while the head of the military administration of the capital, Tymur Tkachchenko, announced that wreckage of the drones hit buildings in various areas of the city, including residential buildings.

Unofficial channels on Telegram posted videos showing parts of residential buildings on fire, while reports of injuries have yet to emerge.

In contrast, the Russian Defense Ministry said yesterday, Wednesday, that 286 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed over Russian territories during the night.

In the southern Krasnodar region, local Russian authorities reported that drone debris fell on the grounds of an industrial facility, causing a fire.

Source: Agencies