A series of explosions resounded throughout the Ukrainian capital Kyiv as air defense units engaged Russian drones, Reuters witnesses said.
The skies over Kyiv have been buzzing with the sound of drones in the past few weeks as Russia has intensified its air campaign against Ukraine. However, the Ukrainian air force has not been idle and has claimed to have shot down most of the intruding UAVs.
According to a statement by the Air Force on Saturday, Ukrainian air defense and mobile groups of drone hunters shot down 30 out of 31 Russian drones over 11 regions across the country on Saturday, the air force said.
The statement also said that six air attacks targeted Kyiv since the beginning of December and that Ukrainian forces managed to intercept and destroy all of them. Reuters reporters in Kyiv heard several loud blasts on Saturday as air defense units engaged Russian drones.
Serhiy Popko, head of the city’s military administration, said that Kyiv was prepared for any scenario and that the residents should not panic. He also urged people to follow the instructions of the civil defense authorities and to report any suspicious activities or objects.
The drone attacks are part of Russia’s hybrid warfare strategy against Ukraine, which also includes cyberattacks, propaganda, and covert operations. Russia has amassed more than 100,000 troops near the border with Ukraine, raising fears of a full-scale invasion.
Ukraine and its Western allies have called on Russia to de-escalate the situation and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. They have also pledged to support Ukraine with diplomatic, economic, and military assistance.
The United States has announced that it will send additional weapons and equipment to Ukraine, including anti-drone systems, anti-tank missiles, and radar systems. The European Union has also imposed new sanctions on Russian individuals and entities involved in the aggression against Ukraine.
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