Ukraine reported a new wave of Russian drone attacks on its capital Kyiv on Monday. This came just a day after Ukraine’s top general vowed to hit back harder and deeper inside Russia.
Tymur Tkachenko, the head of Kyiv’s military administration, said in a statement, “Another massive attack on the capital. Possibly, several waves of enemy drones.”
Casualties and Panic in Kyiv
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said two people were hospitalized in the Solomianski district. Tkachenko later added that two more were injured near a metro station in the Sviatochinski area.
Journalists from AFP reported hearing drones buzzing and explosions in central Kyiv. Gunfire followed shortly after. Around ten residents took shelter in a building basement, anxiously checking their phones for updates as the attack continued.
Ukraine Promises Stronger Response
General Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, declared that Ukraine would not remain passive. “We will not just sit in defence. Because this brings nothing and eventually leads to the fact that we still retreat, lose people and territories,” he told AFP and other reporters.
He stressed that Ukraine’s recent strikes on Russian military targets had shown results. “Of course, we will continue. We will increase the scale and depth,” Syrsky said.
Targeting Military and Energy Sites
Throughout the war, Ukraine has launched counterattacks on Russian energy hubs and military locations, even those far from the frontline. Officials in Kyiv say these are fair responses to Moscow’s deadly assaults on civilians and infrastructure.
On Sunday, a Russian attack killed four people in Kramatorsk after striking an apartment building. Later, another Russian strike on a Ukrainian army training site killed three more.
Drone War Favors Russia
Syrsky acknowledged that Russia currently has the upper hand in drone warfare. He pointed out their use of fibre-optic drones, which are hard to block.
“Here, unfortunately, they have an advantage in both the number and range of their use,” he admitted.
Ukraine Claims Hold Inside Russia
Syrsky also claimed that Ukraine still controls about 90 square kilometers of land inside Russia’s Kursk region. This area was part of a Ukrainian cross-border mission last August.
“These are our pre-emptive actions in response to a possible enemy offensive,” he explained. However, Russia earlier said it had taken full control of that area and denies any Ukrainian presence there.
Ongoing War and Peace Talks Stalled
Russia still occupies around 20% of Ukrainian land. Since 2022, it has claimed to annex four regions in addition to Crimea, which it took in 2014.
Kyiv has accused Moscow of avoiding peace to keep its offensive going and seize more ground.
On Sunday, Russia said it had taken over Petrivske village in the northeastern Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian Air Force confirmed that Russia had sent 47 drones and fired three missiles at the country between Saturday night and Sunday morning.