Title: Russia Launches New Attack on Kyiv, Drones Cause Damage
Subtitle: NATO Summit Concludes with Commitment to Support Ukraine
KIEV.- Russia launched a new attack against Kyiv for the third consecutive day, shortly after the conclusion of the NATO summit in Lithuania, where member countries expressed their strong commitment to support Ukraine. During the early hours of Thursday, a dozen Shahed kamikaze drones were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, but not before causing damage to residential buildings and infrastructure.
The head of Kyiv’s Military Administration, Serguí Popko, confirmed that two blocks of flats and other infrastructure were damaged by the falling remains of the intercepted drones. Tragically, two young individuals aged 19 and 23 were hospitalized after being hit by fragments of the drones. The remains of the drones fell in four different districts of the capital, triggering loud explosions that could be heard throughout central Kyiv before 2 am.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that a total of 20 Iranian-made Shahed drones and two Kalibr cruise missiles were shot down across the country. Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat described the air defense operation as successful. According to the Kyiv military administration, the drones entered the capital from different directions, putting local residents on high alert.
In a separate incident, Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed that a Ukrainian attack on the Duna hotel in Berdyansk resulted in the deaths of several Russian soldiers. Telegram channels reported that Russian General Oleg Tsokov was among the casualties. Berdyansk, located in southeastern Ukraine on the shores of the Azov Sea, had been occupied by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion began in February last year.
In the face of escalating aggression, Ukraine expressed gratitude for the military aid received from its allies during the NATO summit. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky acknowledged the support received in “air defense, missiles, armored vehicles, and artillery.” He also highlighted the “security guarantees” promised by the G7 governments and their commitment to negotiate Ukraine’s acceptance into NATO.
Zelensky emphasized that while no concrete commitment was made to accept Ukraine as a member country after the war with Russia is over, all NATO leaders signed a declaration affirming that Ukraine’s future lies within the Alliance. He expressed gratitude to each NATO leader individually for their assistance and aspirations for Ukraine’s membership.
With tensions escalating, Ukraine continues to receive military aid from NATO and bolster its defenses against Russian aggression. The international community’s support signals a unified front against further hostilities and a commitment to Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.