Ukraine says Russia launched 5th drone attack in 2 weeks on capital Kyiv

ISTANBUL

Ukraine said early on Sunday that Russia launched its fifth drone attack in the past two weeks on the country's capital Kyiv.

"The latest air raid alert in Kyiv was due to a drone threat. Over the past two weeks, this is at least the fifth consecutive actual attempt by the enemy to attack the capital using drones," Serhiy Popko, the head of the Kyiv City Military Administration said on Telegram.

Indicating that a "certain number" of Russian drones were heading towards Ukraine's capital, Popko said all of the drones were destroyed by air defenses and that no damage or casualties had occurred in Kyiv.

He went on to say such "systematic attacks" prove that Russia was actively looking for an opportunity to strike Kyiv.

"They are testing new tactics, looking for new approach routes to the capital, trying to expose the location of our air defense," Popko added.

In a later statement, Mykola Oleshchuk, head of Ukraine's Air Force, claimed on Telegram that air defenses downed 35 of 39 drones launched by Russia towards 10 regions of the country.

Further claiming that three Iskander and two Kh-59/69 missiles were also launched during the overnight attack, Oleshchuk said two Kh-59/69 missiles "did not reach their targets."

Oleshchuk did not comment on the fate of the remaining four drones and the three Iskander missiles.

Russian authorities have not yet commented on Ukraine's claims.