Ukraine shoots down 13 ‘kamikaze’ drones targeting Kyiv

Ukraine’s military destroyed 13 Iranian-made drones over Kyiv and the surrounding region this morning during the latest Russian attack on the country’s energy infrastructure, President Zelensky has said.

Explosions were heard at dawn in central Kyiv and officials warned that more strikes could be on the way. They said that fragments of the downed drones had hit two administrative buildings in central Kyiv and damaged four houses elsewhere in the capital. There were no casualties. Oleksiy Kuleba, the regional governor, said the attacks were a continuation of Russian “energy terror”.

“This morning started with [attacks by] 13 Shaheds,” Zelensky said in a short video, referring to the Iranian “kamikaze” drones that Moscow has used to target Kyiv and other cities. “All 13 were shot down by our Ukrainian air defence systems. Well done, I am proud.”

Ukrainian air defence forces said the drones had been launched from the eastern coast of the Azov Sea. The words “For Ryazan!!!” could be seen on the remains of one of the drones that fell near a residential building. Suspected Ukrainian drones killed three soldiers and damaged warplanes at an airfield in Ryazan, a city 120 miles south of Moscow, last week. The airfield had been used to carry out bombing raids on Ukraine.

Ukraine says that 40 per cent of its critical energy infrastructure has been damaged by waves of Russian attacks that are aimed at plunging the country into the dark and cold. Power outages are common across Ukraine.

Zelensky urged G7 nations to provide extra gas and weapons to help Ukraine survive the winter, when temperatures can fall to as low as minus 20C.

With no sign of a let-up in Russian attacks, the United States could decide this week to provide Ukraine with Patriot missile defence systems, according to reports. The US-made missiles are considered among the most advanced in the world.

Russian officials have advised Washington against sending them to Kyiv and the Kremlin would almost certainly view such a move as an escalation.

Meanwhile, President Putin’s forces continued to attack Kherson, the southern Ukrainian city that was liberated last month after eight months of Russian occupation. Officials said the city had been shelled 42 times overnight, killing one person and damaging homes and educational facilities. Thousands of people have fled the city since its liberation to escape relentless shelling from Russian forces on the other side of the Dnipro river.

The attacks came as state media reported that Putin had decided to postpone his yearly state-of-the-nation address to parliament. The Russian president also cancelled his annual Q&A session with the Russian public, as well as his end-of-year press conference.

The British defence ministry said the Kremlin was concerned that the events could become a platform for anti-war sentiments. Only one in four Russians now want their army to remain in Ukraine, according to a leaked Kremlin poll.