Kyiv: Russian drone strike kills one in Ukraine capital, says mayor | Ukraine

At least one person died and three were injured in Russia’s night-time air raid on Kyiv, with defence systems downing at least 20 drones moving towards the capital, city officials said early on Sunday.

Falling drone debris on a gas station killed a 41-year-old man in the city’s Solomyanskyi district, Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Kyiv’s military administration said at least three people were injured in the attack on the city.

“A 35-year-old woman was hospitalised, a 41-year-old man died,” the mayor said on the Telegram messaging channel.

“Air defence forces have already destroyed more than 20 UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) moving towards Kyiv,” Klitschko said. “But a new wave of drones is coming to the capital. Stay in shelters.”

Reuters witnesses said that during the air raid alerts that started sounding soon after midnight on Sunday, many people stood on their balconies, some screaming slogans like “Glory to air defence”.

Klitschko added that a fire broke out after falling drone debris hit a seven-storey non-residential building in the Solomyanskyi district west of the city. The district is a busy rail and air transport hub.

In the Pecherskyi district, a historical neighbourhood of Kyiv, a fire broke out on the roof of a nine-storey building due to falling drone debris, Kyiv’s military administration officials said on Telegram.

Russian forces have targeted Kyiv throughout May.

The head of the local civil and military administration, Serhii Popko, said Friday that there had been 13 attacks during the month.

Over the past few weeks, reports of drone attacks in Russia have also increased, usually in regions bordering Ukraine. On Saturday, shelling in those areas killed two people, regional authorities said.

Moscow has blamed Kyiv – and its western supporters – for the escalating number of attacks and sabotage operations, including on the Kremlin, but Ukraine has denied involvement.