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Ukraine war: Kyiv attacked by 'kamikaze' drones | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Watch: People flee Kyiv building after explosion | Watch: People flee Kyiv building after explosion |
Watch: People flee Kyiv building after explosion | Watch: People flee Kyiv building after explosion |
Russia has hit Ukraine with a wave of attacks, dive-bombing the capital, Kyiv, with what appear to be Iranian-made "kamikaze" drones. | |
Air strikes hit critical infrastructure in three regions, cutting off electricity in hundreds of villages across the country, according to Prime Minister Denys Shmygal. | |
At least eight people were killed, four in Sumy and four in Kyiv. | |
Calls have mounted for sanctions on Iran, which denies supplying drones. | |
A week ago, the Ukrainian capital was hit by Russian missiles at rush hour, part of nationwide attacks which left 19 dead. | |
Mr Shmygal said the new strikes had hit regions of Kyiv, Dnipro and Sumy. | Mr Shmygal said the new strikes had hit regions of Kyiv, Dnipro and Sumy. |
Four people were killed when an energy-generating facility was hit in Sumy, according to Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister, Yevhen Yenin. | Four people were killed when an energy-generating facility was hit in Sumy, according to Ukraine's Deputy Interior Minister, Yevhen Yenin. |
"Russia is hunting for all energy-related facilities," Mr Yenin warned. "They want to cause chaos in the energy industry." | "Russia is hunting for all energy-related facilities," Mr Yenin warned. "They want to cause chaos in the energy industry." |
"It shows their desperation," said Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's staff. | "It shows their desperation," said Andriy Yermak, head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's staff. |
In the port city of Mykolaiv, sunflower oil tanks were set on fire by the suicide drones, said the city's mayor, Oleksandr Senkevich. | In the port city of Mykolaiv, sunflower oil tanks were set on fire by the suicide drones, said the city's mayor, Oleksandr Senkevich. |
Mr Senkevich said three drones had ignited the tanks at Mykolaiv late on Sunday evening, hours before the attack in Kyiv. | |
A Ukrainian air force official said since last night, 37 drones had been destroyed, which had all flown into the country from the south. | A Ukrainian air force official said since last night, 37 drones had been destroyed, which had all flown into the country from the south. |
Tanks at the port city of Mykolaiv were set on fire by Russian drone attacks, according to the city's mayor | Tanks at the port city of Mykolaiv were set on fire by Russian drone attacks, according to the city's mayor |
The low buzzing of the slow-moving drones is becoming familiar across the country. | |
The city reverberated to the rattle of gunfire as anti-aircraft batteries frantically tried to shoot them down. Video on social media appeared to show one interception. | The city reverberated to the rattle of gunfire as anti-aircraft batteries frantically tried to shoot them down. Video on social media appeared to show one interception. |
National Police officers shooting down an Iranian drone.WE NEED AIR DEFENSE! pic.twitter.com/AvdviH6RhE | |
The explosions on Monday began at about 06:30 local time (03:30 GMT). The most recent was at about 08:10 local time. | The explosions on Monday began at about 06:30 local time (03:30 GMT). The most recent was at about 08:10 local time. |
Two were close to the city centre, with sirens and car alarms heard across the area. | Two were close to the city centre, with sirens and car alarms heard across the area. |
"The enemy can attack our cities, but it won't be able to break us," said President Zelensky, describing the attacks as "terrorising the civilian population". | "The enemy can attack our cities, but it won't be able to break us," said President Zelensky, describing the attacks as "terrorising the civilian population". |
Kyiv's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, described the attacks as a "genocide of the Ukrainian people. The Russians need a Ukraine without Ukrainians." | Kyiv's mayor, Vitaliy Klitschko, described the attacks as a "genocide of the Ukrainian people. The Russians need a Ukraine without Ukrainians." |
Mr Klitschko said that the city authorities were expecting soon the arrival of air defence systems to protect the capital from drone attacks. | Mr Klitschko said that the city authorities were expecting soon the arrival of air defence systems to protect the capital from drone attacks. |
One Reuters news agency journalist reported seeing fragments of a drone used in the attack that bore the words "For Belgorod". | |
The Russian border city of Belgorod has been hit several times since Russia invaded Ukraine. Moscow blames Kyiv for the attacks. | The Russian border city of Belgorod has been hit several times since Russia invaded Ukraine. Moscow blames Kyiv for the attacks. |
Two gunmen - who had volunteered to fight in Ukraine - killed 11 people on Saturday at a Russian military training camp in the Belgorod region. | Two gunmen - who had volunteered to fight in Ukraine - killed 11 people on Saturday at a Russian military training camp in the Belgorod region. |
Writing on the Telegram social media site, Mr Klitschko said there were four strikes in Kyiv, although residents heard five or six explosions. He also told people to stay in air raid shelters. | Writing on the Telegram social media site, Mr Klitschko said there were four strikes in Kyiv, although residents heard five or six explosions. He also told people to stay in air raid shelters. |
But despite the warnings, the streets were far from deserted. Between the first and second set of strikes, plenty of people seemed to be going about their Monday morning business. | But despite the warnings, the streets were far from deserted. Between the first and second set of strikes, plenty of people seemed to be going about their Monday morning business. |
Mr Yermak described the kamikaze attacks as Russia's "death throes" and said Ukraine needed more air defence systems "as soon as possible". | Mr Yermak described the kamikaze attacks as Russia's "death throes" and said Ukraine needed more air defence systems "as soon as possible". |
Some EU foreign ministers, including those from France and Germany, are calling for new sanctions against Iran for supplying drones to Russia. | |
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc would investigate Tehran's participation in the conflict. | |
Despite the mounting evidence of Iranian drones being used, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani insisted his country was not a "party in the war", adding: "We have not supplied any weapons to the sides of the Ukraine war." | |
Russia said it had hit Ukrainian military command facilities and energy systems "in the course of 24 hours" with long-range air- and sea-based weapons on Sunday. | |
What are 'kamikaze drones'? | What are 'kamikaze drones'? |
Believed to include an Iranian-supplied weapon called the Shahed-136 | Believed to include an Iranian-supplied weapon called the Shahed-136 |
These drones loiter above a target before attacking | These drones loiter above a target before attacking |
Packed with explosives which detonate upon impact, destroying the drone | Packed with explosives which detonate upon impact, destroying the drone |
Often sent in waves and difficult to spot on radar | Often sent in waves and difficult to spot on radar |
The US said Iran planned to send hundreds to Russia, costing just $20,000 (£17,800) each | The US said Iran planned to send hundreds to Russia, costing just $20,000 (£17,800) each |
Ukraine has also used 'kamikaze drones' - including the US-made Switchblade model | Ukraine has also used 'kamikaze drones' - including the US-made Switchblade model |
Mayor Klitschko shared a photo of what he said were fragments of a kamikaze drone on Telegram | Mayor Klitschko shared a photo of what he said were fragments of a kamikaze drone on Telegram |
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week's strikes were in retaliation for the bombing of a key bridge linking Russia to occupied Crimea, which he blamed on Ukraine. | Russian President Vladimir Putin said last week's strikes were in retaliation for the bombing of a key bridge linking Russia to occupied Crimea, which he blamed on Ukraine. |
It was the first time during the war that the centre of Kyiv had been directly targeted. | It was the first time during the war that the centre of Kyiv had been directly targeted. |
Earlier this week, Mr Putin said there was no need for more large-scale strikes on Ukraine. Most designated targets had been hit, he said, adding that it was not his aim to destroy the country. | Earlier this week, Mr Putin said there was no need for more large-scale strikes on Ukraine. Most designated targets had been hit, he said, adding that it was not his aim to destroy the country. |
A drone seen in Kyiv on Monday | A drone seen in Kyiv on Monday |
A Ukrainian in Kyiv fires at a drone | A Ukrainian in Kyiv fires at a drone |
Additional reporting by Elsa Maishman and Patrick Jackson in London |