Ukraine war: Kyiv attacked by kamikaze drones say officials - BBC

2 years ago 65
Media caption,

Watch: Explosions harm Kyiv gathering aft drone strikes

By Paul Adams successful Kyiv and Merlyn Thomas successful London

BBC News

At slightest 5 explosions person been heard successful the Ukrainian superior Kyiv - with a statesmanlike advisor blaming "kamizake drones" sent by Russia.

"It shows their desperation," said Andriy Yermak, caput of Ukrainian President Zelensky's office.

Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said residential buildings successful the cardinal Shevchenkivskiy country had been damaged.

A week ago, the superior was deed by Russian missiles astatine unreserved hour, portion of nationwide attacks which near 19 dead.

The explosions connected Monday began astatine astir 06:30 section clip (03:30 GMT), and determination were astatine slightest 5 successful total. The astir caller was astatine astir 08:10 section time.

Two were adjacent to the metropolis centre, with sirens and car alarms heard crossed the area.

Writing connected the Telegram societal media site, Mr Klitschko said determination were explosions successful the Shevchenkivskiy district, which was deed by respective strikes past week.

He said rescuers were connected tract wherever a occurrence had breached out, and told residents to enactment successful aerial raid shelters.

Mr Yermak described the kamikaze attacks arsenic Russia's "death throes", and that Ukraine needed much aerial defence systems "as soon arsenic possible".

A section journalist, Oksana Kovalenko, told the BBC that 2 drones had deed captious energy-related infrastructure, and that 1 had been changeable down.

What are kamikaze drones?

  • Small aerial weapons, besides known arsenic loitering munitions, which are destroyed aft striking the target
  • Unlike different drones - which are expected to instrumentality location aft dropping missiles - kamikaze drones are disposable
  • The sanction derives from the Japanese pilots who volunteered to clang their planes successful termination missions successful World War Two
  • President Zelensky has antecedently accused Russia of utilizing Iranian-made drones - Iran denies supplying them portion Russia has not commented

Image source, Telegram

Image caption,

Mayor Klitschko shared a photograph of what helium said were fragments of a Kamikaze drone connected Telegram

Russian President Vladimir Putin said past week's strikes were successful retaliation for the bombing of a cardinal span linking Russia to occupied Crimea, which helium blamed connected Ukraine.

It was the archetypal clip during the warfare that the centre of Kyiv had been straight targeted.

Most designated targets had been hit, helium said, adding that it was not his purpose to destruct the country.

Additional reporting by Elsa Maishman successful London

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