World
This handout photograph released by Ukrainian Emergency Service on August 2, 2023 shows a view of a damaged building at a Ukrainian port on the Danube. Photo: Handout/Ukrainian Emergency Service/AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Ukraine’s air defense on Thursday morning announced they had intercepted 15 Iranian-made drones launched in an overnight attack by Russia, marking a second consecutive night of such air strikes.
A total of 15 Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones were fired from northern Russia towards Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces shooting down all of the UAV, according to a statement from the air forces.
“Like yesterday, this was a massive attack. Air defense forces detected and destroyed almost one and a half dozen air targets on the approach to Kyiv," Ukraine's state media cited Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, as saying.
The Ukrainian army had downed at least 23 Shahed drones fired towards the capital of Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odessa the day before.
Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from areas occupied by them is underway. Russia says the counteroffensive has not resulted in any success, but Ukraine has maintained strict silence to prevent any information from being leaked.
In response, Russia has been targeting Odessa and the region's grain storage facilities after refusing to extend a crucial Black Sea grain deal that permitted Ukrainian exports.
Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones have been repeatedly used by Russia in its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, leading to a barrage of international sanctions and condemnations on Iran. Tehran said the drones it sent to Russia preceded the war in Ukraine, which broke out last February.
A total of 15 Shahed-136/131 kamikaze drones were fired from northern Russia towards Ukraine, with Ukrainian forces shooting down all of the UAV, according to a statement from the air forces.
“Like yesterday, this was a massive attack. Air defense forces detected and destroyed almost one and a half dozen air targets on the approach to Kyiv," Ukraine's state media cited Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, as saying.
The Ukrainian army had downed at least 23 Shahed drones fired towards the capital of Kyiv and the Black Sea port of Odessa the day before.
Ukraine’s long-awaited counteroffensive to push back Russian forces from areas occupied by them is underway. Russia says the counteroffensive has not resulted in any success, but Ukraine has maintained strict silence to prevent any information from being leaked.
In response, Russia has been targeting Odessa and the region's grain storage facilities after refusing to extend a crucial Black Sea grain deal that permitted Ukrainian exports.
Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones have been repeatedly used by Russia in its attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, leading to a barrage of international sanctions and condemnations on Iran. Tehran said the drones it sent to Russia preceded the war in Ukraine, which broke out last February.
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