Kiev, Ukraine has faced two consecutive nights of drone attacks by Russian forces, resulting in damage to several residential buildings and injuring at least one civilian. According to Ukrainian officials, the situation remains tense, with ongoing assaults on the capital. Reports suggest that Russian forces are engaged in urban warfare on the outskirts of Selydove, a town in eastern Ukraine.
In a statement, the Ukrainian military reported that 116 drones were launched by Russia overnight, with 59 intercepted by air defense systems, while 45 went off the radar and are likely to have crashed within Ukraine. There are also indications that up to ten drones remain active within Ukrainian airspace.
Sergiy Popko, the military administration chief of Kiev, shared his concerns on the messaging platform Telegram, saying, “It was another nerve-wracking night. The enemy has not reduced the intensity of airstrikes against Ukraine and Kiev.” He confirmed that multiple attacks had damaged civilian infrastructure.
Popko further noted that during the assaults, at least ten drones targeting Kiev from various directions were destroyed. Although none of the drones managed to hit their intended targets, debris from the fallen drones injured at least one man.
Kiev’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, also posted on Telegram about the situation, stating that drone debris landed in three major districts of the city, causing partial damage to the rooftops and facades of several buildings, as well as impacting power lines.
Moreover, Russian forces continue their advance to fully control the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Despite reports that Ukrainian troops have made incursions into Russian territory and captured parts of Kursk, open-source data indicates that Russian military operations in September were conducted at their fastest pace since March 2022.
In recent weeks, Russian troops have surrounded several towns in Donetsk, applying pressure until Ukrainian forces were forced to withdraw. According to pro-Russian bloggers, the same strategy is being implemented in Selydove, which had a pre-war population of over 20,000.
Notable pro-Russian military blogger Yuri Podolyaka commented on the intensified Russian offensive in Selydove, stating, “Street fighting is currently taking place in the town.” Other pro-Russian bloggers have shared videos depicting intense shelling in Selydove, although Reuters has not been able to verify these clips. The Russian Defense Ministry declined to comment on the situation.
