Russian drones swarm Kyiv from all sides in apparent shift of tactics
Lex Harvey, Victoria Butenko, Kostya Gak
and
Ivana Kottasová
, CNN
A fire burns at a residential building in Kyiv.
Photo:
Efrem Lukatsky / AP via CNN Newsource
Hundreds of Russian drones flying from all directions have attacked Kyiv overnight into Friday (NZT) in an apparent new Russian tactic, marking a second consecutive night of ferocious attacks on Ukraine.
At least two people were killed, including a 22-year-old police officer who was named by authorities as Maria Dziumaha, and more than a dozen were wounded in the attacks, according to authorities.
CNN staff on the ground in Kyiv witnessed massive, fiery explosions that illuminated the night sky. Smoke filled the air, creating a burning smell and obscuring the visibility in the city centre.
Russia has been intensifying its aerial attacks against Ukraine in recent weeks, but the assault on Thursday appeared to mark a change in approach from Moscow.
Russia launched 400 drones and 18 missiles, including eight ballistic and six cruise missiles, according to a Telegram post from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
They were flying at different altitudes, and attacking from all directions - with some of the drones initially bypassing the capital before abruptly changing direction and speeding back towards the city.
While Kyiv has previously experienced attacks from multiple directions, as Russian drones attempted to bypass the city's air defences, the assault on Thursday saw the drones launching towards the city simultaneously, effectively encircling Kyiv before attacking.
This made guarding the capital's skies even more challenging for the strained Ukrainian air defences. Yet the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down or disabled 382 of the 415 aerial weapons Russia launched at the country overnight, including all of the ballistic and cruise missiles. That is a stunning success given the scale of the attack, especially given Ukraine's limited access to air defence systems.
Many Kyiv residents spent another sleepless night in shelters, listening to the terrifying sounds of explosions and drones flying overhead.
Nadiya Voitsehivkya, 63, told CNN her brother-in-law has been taken to hospital with injuries he sustained when his apartment was struck.
"Everything in it was completely destroyed, and (my sister) escaped in her underwear. She managed to escape, but her husband didn't make it; he was crushed by a slab. The ambulance took him away," she said, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"We don't know where to turn: I don't know who can help us. Everything there is burned down; there is nothing left of that apartment."
As terrifying as the night was for Kyiv's residents, these massive aerial attacks have become the new normal for Ukrainian civilians.
Just on Wednesday, Russia conducted its largest drone assault since the start of its full-scale invasion, launching 728 drones and 13 missiles in strikes that killed at least one person, according to Ukrainian officials.
"This is an obvious build-up of terror by Russia," Zelensky said on Thursday, adding that he would be talking to allies about more funding for interceptor drones and air defences.
The damage from the latest offensive attacks appeared to be substantial.
Residents stand outside of their damaged house in Kyiv, following a Russian strike.
Photo:
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP via CNN Newsource
The Russian Defence Ministry said Thursday that it was targeting "Ukrainian military-industrial complex enterprises in Kyiv and military airfield infrastructure."
But houses and residential buildings, cars, warehouse facilities, offices and other buildings across the city were damaged and caught fire, according to city authorities.
A health care clinic was almost completely destroyed in the strikes, Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
Tetyana, a 68-year old Kyiv resident who asked for her last name not to be published because of fears for her security, said the windows in her apartment were smashed by the pressure wave from a nearby explosion.
"We survived the night, it was very scary. There were a lot of people in the basement … there was a humming, whistling, banging. Fire broke out. The windows were shattered, everything was broken, the walls. My hands are still shaking," she told CNN.
As Russia ramped up its aerial attacks against Ukrainian cities, efforts to reach a ceasefire have largely stalled.
US President Donald Trump has become increasingly frustrated with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
"We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump said in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday. "He's very nice all of the time, but it turns out to be meaningless."
Russia's sustained assault in recent days has injected new urgency into questions surrounding Washington's commitment to defending Ukraine, as the Trump administration pledged to send additional defensive weaponry to Kyiv in an apparent policy reversion.
People sleep on the platform of a metro station in Kyiv, as they take cover during a Russian attack.
Photo:
Evgeniy Maloletka / AP via CNN Newsource
Moscow downplayed Trump's harsh words in a press briefing Wednesday. A Kremlin spokesperson said it is reacting "calmly" to Trump's criticism of Putin. "Trump in general tends to use a fairly tough style and expressions," Dmitry Peskov said, adding Moscow hopes to continue dialogue with Washington.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Malaysia on Thursday, where he said he relayed Trump's "disappointment and frustration" during a "frank conversation."
Trump's Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg weighed in, as well, calling Russia's latest attacks "simply horrific" in a speech at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome.
Zelensky said at a new conference at the same summit on Thursday that all signals point toward the US resuming its aid to Ukraine.
"It is important that, following very constructive and very positive conversations with President Trump, we have all the necessary political signals regarding the resumption of aid supplies," Zelensky said. "We are now working at the team level to ensure that everything arrives in Ukraine on time. We have agreed on all of this."
Zelensky added that at the recovery conference, he discussed purchasing expensive Patriot missile systems with representatives from the US and European countries.
Following Wednesday's record drone attack, Zelensky said there had been "so many attempts to achieve peace and cease fire, but Russia rejects everything."
-CNN
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Zelensky introduces bill to 'uphold independence' of Ukraine's anti-graft bodies
By Dan Peleschuk and Yuliia Dysa , Reuters Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: AFP / John Thys President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday submitted draft legislation to restore the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, reversing course after an outburst of public criticism. Measures enacted earlier this week that established greater control by the prosecutor general, a political appointee, over the anti-corruption bureau NABU and the specialised prosecution unit SAPO had fuelled rare wartime protests and had thrown Kyiv's EU accession bid into question. The agencies said they had been involved in drafting the bill and urged Parliament to hold a vote as soon as possible. "The bill, submitted by the president of Ukraine as urgent, restores all procedural powers and guarantees of independence to the NABU and SAPO," they said in a statement. Zelensky, whose image as a tireless leader of the three-year-old war against Russia's invasion has been tarnished by the controversy, said the text of the new bill is "well-balanced". He also said that the bill guarantees "reliable protection of the law enforcement system against any Russian influence", in an apparent move to justify the law hurriedly passed on Tuesday. On Monday, security forces arrested two anti-corruption officials on suspicion of ties to Russia and launched sweeping searches of other employees. Critics had decried the move to give a Zelensky-appointed prosecutor control over the agencies, saying it looked like political pressure on the agencies. After the law was adopted, Zelensky faced a severe backlash, with thousands of people joining protests across the country, even though public gatherings are restricted by martial law. "It is important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine," Zelensky said. In his nightly video address, Zelensky later said the bill had been discussed not only with the agencies concerned, but also with Ukrainian legal experts and officials from Ukraine's Western allies. The text, he said, would be presented to Western experts whose comments on the legislation were welcome. Zelensky also said the reaction of Ukrainians who joined protests in major cities was understandable. "It is important that Ukrainians react in such a worthy fashion to all events," he said. "Ukraine is a people who care." Ukraine's international allies had rushed to express vocal criticism to the earlier legislation. The International Monetary Fund said the law, curbing the agencies' authority, would be "very problematic" for the war-torn country's macroeconomic stability and growth. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz both had calls with Zelensky on Thursday, offering their countries' expertise on the new bill. "I invited Germany to join the expert review of the bill. Friedrich assured me of readiness to assist," Zelensky said on X. I spoke with @bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz. As always, a very good conversation. There is a willingness to help and continue supporting us. I informed him that I have already approved the draft bill guaranteeing the independence and effectiveness of anti-corruption institutions… Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of Parliament, said it would be considered at the next plenary session, although MPs were meant to start their summer holiday this week. - Reuters
RNZ News
19 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pentagon watchdog has evidence Hegseth's Signal messages included classified information, sources say
By Natasha Bertrand , Zachary Cohen , CNN Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth Photo:via CNN Newsource The Pentagon's inspector general has received evidence that the military plans shared from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth 's Signal account to a group chat earlier this year were taken from a US Central Command document that was marked classified at the time, according to two people familiar with the ongoing review. The Pentagon watchdog, which launched a review in April of Hegseth's use of the commercial messaging app to share information related to US military operations in Yemen, obtained the document in the early days of its investigation, the sources said. The document was marked Secret/NOFORN, meaning no foreign nationals should see it. The IG's possession of the document with its original classification markings appears to further undercut Hegseth's claims that nothing classified was shared in the Signal chat , which included several other Cabinet members and Vice President JD Vance. Similar details were shared from Hegseth's phone in a second Signal chat that included his wife, brother and personal lawyer, CNN has reported. In a statement, chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell again denied that any classified information was shared via Signal. "This Signal narrative is so old and worn out, it's starting to resemble Joe Biden's mental state. The Department stands behind its previous statements: no classified information was shared via Signal," Parnell said. "As we've said repeatedly, nobody was texting war plans and the success of the Department's recent operations-from Operation Rough Rider to Operation Midnight Hammer-are proof that our operational security and discipline are top notch." A spokesperson for the Office of the Inspector General declined to comment, noting the IG's long-standing policy of not commenting on ongoing oversight projects. The Washington Post first reported the news. Hegseth was at his residence in Tennessee at the time the information was sent on March 15, the sources said. Photo:via CNN Newsource The information disclosed on Signal on March 15 included details about the timing, choreography and assets involved in pending US strikes against the Houthi rebel group, according to the sources and a transcript of the chat first revealed by The Atlantic . CNN reported at the time what the IG has now evidence of - that the information was classified. The inspector general has also been asking witnesses whether anyone else could have physically entered the information into the Signal chat at Hegseth's request, using his phone, according to the sources. Hegseth was at his residence in Tennessee at the time the information was sent on March 15, the sources said. One witness also told investigators that they recalled being a part of about a dozen separate Signal chats that included Hegseth, according to one of the sources. Hegseth told lawmakers during a hearing in June that he could not discuss in a public setting the classification level of the information shared to the Signal chat, despite arguing at the same time that it was not classified. "You can very well disclose whether or not it was classified," Democratic Rep. Seth Moulton said at the time. "What's not classified is that it was an incredibly successful mission," Hegseth replied. - CNN
RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
French president sues Candace Owens over claims his wife is a man
By Joseph Ataman and Saskya Vandoorne , CNN French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte. Photo: Beata Zawrzel / NurPhoto / Getty Images via CNN Newsource French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, have filed a 22-count defamation lawsuit in the United States against right-wing podcaster Candace Owens over the claim that Brigitte could be a man. The lawsuit filed in Delaware Superior Court alleges Owens has broadcast "a relentless year-long campaign of defamation against the Macrons" according to a statement from Tom Clare, the Macrons' lawyer. In March, conservative commentator Candace Owens revived an absurd conspiracy theory with a YouTube video titled "Is France's First Lady a Man?" according to the complaint. Promoted widely on X, Owens said the conspiracy theory was, "likely the biggest scandal in political history." Since then, Owens has produced numerous videos about Brigitte Macron for her nearly 4.5 million YouTube subscribers, including a multi-part series called "Becoming Brigitte." The lawsuit further claims she has also sold merchandise promoting the claim. Candace Owens. Photo: AFP/ Getty Images - Jason Davies The Macrons' attorney Tom Clare told CNN Wednesday that they had asked Owens to stop making the claim for about a year and filed the lawsuit as a "last resort" after she refused. The complaint alleges Owens was the first person to bring these baseless claims to the US media and an international audience. The couple are suing for punitive damages and allege that they have suffered "substantial economic damages" including loss of future business opportunities. On Instagram, Owens posted a screenshot Wednesday of an article referencing the Macrons' lawsuit and a picture of the couple with the caption: "I will be coming for this wig today. Stay tuned." She later posted a video on YouTube saying the lawsuit was "an obvious and desperate public relations strategy." CNN has reached out to Owens for comment. Separately, Brigitte Macron sued two French women for spreading similar claims in 2022. After winning the initial case, this year the women won an appeal and the lawsuit will go to a higher court, according to CNN affiliate BFMTV. According to the statement, these retraction demands to Owens were accompanied by, "incontrovertible evidence disproving her allegations and proving, among other things, that Mrs. Macron was born a woman named Brigitte Trogneux, that she is not a blood relative of President Macron," and that the Macrons are not being controlled or blackmailed by unknown forces by a CIA-linked program. "Owens has used this false statement to promote her independent platform, gain notoriety, and make money," the official complaint said. The claims caused, "tremendous damage" to the Macrons, the complaint added. "Every time the Macrons leave their home, they do so knowing that countless people have heard, and many believe, these vile fabrications. It is invasive, dehumanizing, and deeply unjust," the complaint continued. Clare said, "What people forget is these are human beings, these are a married couple. They have a social life, they have a private life together, they have the same feelings and the same hurt from these sorts of defamatory statements as anybody would. And it does have a material impact on them." The Macrons are seeking punitive damages against Owens and her business entities for 22 counts of defamation, false light, and defamation by implication, the statement said. Clare declined to say the amount of money the Macrons would seek but warned that if Owens continues to double-down on the claim, "it'll be a substantial award." At a Paris event in March 2024, Macron addressed the rumor around his wife saying that the worst part of being a president was having to deal with "the false information and fabricated stories." "People end up believing them, and it disrupts your life, even in your most private moments," Macron said. France's Elysee Palace said the lawsuit was a "private affair" and would not comment on the matter. - CNN
