Ukraine says it shot down 36 drones in overnight Russian attacks

Russian drone strike in Kyiv

KYIV (Reuters) – Ukraine said on Thursday it had shot down all 36 Iranian-made drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks which it said probably targeted critical infrastructure and military facilities.

Russian drone strike in Kyiv

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it had been an “uneasy night” but commended the work of air defences.

“Continuing to terrorise Ukraine, the enemy used 36 Shahed (drones). None of them reached their target. Thanks to our air defence forces for the 100% result,” he wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Since last October, Moscow, which launched its full-scale invasion in February last year, has regularly sent waves of drones to attack targets in Ukraine. Although they are slow, drones are cheaper and more expendable than advanced missiles.

Russian drone strike in Kyiv

“The enemy likely aimed to attack critical infrastructure and military facilities in the western regions of the state,” the Ukrainian air force said on Telegram.

It said Iran-made Shahed 136 and Shahed 131 drones had been used.

The head of Kyiv’s military administration said the capital had come under attack by several waves of drones but that all had been shot down. He said it was the 12th attack on Kyiv this month.

Regional and military authorities in southern and western Ukraine reported shooting down drones.

(Reporting by Max Hunder, Editing by Timothy Heritage)