Russia launched a series of kamikaze drone attacks on the Ukrainian cities of Kyiv and Odesa early Today just hours before the commencement of a NATO summit in Lithuania, where leaders are gathering to discuss strategies to counter security threats posed by Moscow.
The Ukrainian military confirmed that their air defense systems successfully intercepted and shot down 26 out of the 28 Iranian-made Shahed drones deployed by Russia.
The majority of these drones were directed towards Odesa and Kyiv. In Odesa, 22 drones were neutralized, but two managed to strike an administrative building within the port.
The local governor, Oleh Kiper, reported that the impact caused temporary fires at a grain terminal and another nearby facility. Fortunately, swift action prevented any significant damage or injuries.
Kyiv also came under attack, but all the drones targeting the capital were intercepted. However, falling debris from the intercepted drones resulted in minor damage to several residential houses in the surrounding region.
Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, denounced the attack as the second aerial assault on the city this month. Witnesses in Kyiv reported hearing blasts resembling air defense systems intercepting the incoming threats.
Ruslan Kravchenko, the military head of the Kyiv region, shared on his Facebook page that 12 residential houses and a multi-storey building sustained minor damages due to falling debris. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The NATO summit, set to commence in Vilnius, Lithuania, will primarily focus on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Leaders participating in the summit are expected to approve NATO’s comprehensive plans to defend against potential attacks from Moscow, marking the first such initiative since the end of the Cold War.
Russia has strongly criticized NATO and its primary power, the United States, for their support of Ukraine and has issued a warning that Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO would be met with a “clear and firm” response.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has been ongoing for 503 days, resulting in a significant loss of life, the displacement of millions of people, and the destruction of numerous cities in Ukraine’s eastern and southern regions.
Read also: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Unraveling Putin’s Motives and Geopolitical Factors
As Ukraine continues to face these attacks, international leaders are gathering to address the urgent threat posed by Russian aggression and to devise measures to ensure the safety and security of Ukraine and its neighboring countries.
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