Russia fired biggest wave drone war in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Sunday, leaving behind at least one person dead.
A 41-year-old man died after fragments of the shot down drone fell to the ground, according to Vitali Klitschko, mayor of Kyiv, and the city's military administration. The first wave of explosions, including three that damaged buildings across the city, occurred shortly after 2 a.m. local time, according to Klitschko. The air raid alert was lifted around 6 a.m
Russia had intensified its focus on Kyiv in May, unleashing its largest and most sustained assault there since at least March, with near-nightly missile and drone fire. Sunday's attack, the 14th this month, looks to be the first deadly of May. Ukraine's air defenses destroyed more than 40 drones, most of which were fired at Kyiv in one night, the city's military administration said on Telegram.
Ukraine's armed forces have become adept at intercepting Russian attacks, often shooting down dozens of drones and missiles. Starting this month, Ukraine has been using the US-made Patriot anti-missile system, one of the most advanced air defense systems, as part of its growing arsenal.
To show how skilled Ukraine's armed forces are, its air defense systems shot down a Kinzhal aimed at Kyiv earlier this month on more than one occasion, according to Ukrainian and US officials. This weapon is one of Russia's most advanced conventional weapons. And while some analysts doubt the Kinzhal's capabilities, Ukraine's defense against them demonstrates a formidable ability to withstand Russian arsenal, which includes the Iranian-made Shahed-136 drone.
On Saturday, Ukraine's top military commander, General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, signaled that the country's armed forces were ready to launch their counteroffensive, but stopped short of announcing a formal start to it. In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have emboldened and infiltrated deeper into Russian territory, traded drone and missile strikes with Russia, and targeted military and industrial facilities that have been key to Russia's war effort.