TheCable

Russia launched its biggest drone attack on Kyiv on Saturday — the first since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year.

According to Ukrainian officials, there was wave after wave of attacks from the north and east.

The attack woke residents up before dawn as the explosions raged for more than six hours. 

Officials said more than 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones were fired at the capital overnight, and 74 were shot down.

The incident had left at least five people wounded and saw several buildings damaged, including a kindergarten. The wounded included an 11-year-old. 

The assault also inflicted significant damage on Kyiv’s infrastructure, disrupting power supply to thousands of residents.

According to Ukraine’s energy ministry, the attack left 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions without power, affecting around 17,000 people in the Kyiv region. Four power lines were also damaged as a result of the strikes.

Commenting on Telegram, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky called the strikes an act of “willful terror” adding that his country will “continue to work to unite the world in defence against Russian terror”.

“Our soldiers shot down most of the drones. Unfortunately, not all. But we continue to work to strengthen our air defence and shoot down more,” Zelensky said.