IRIA News

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Russian forces conducted mass drone attacks and artillery strikes toward the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and its surrounding regions on November 3, 2024. The latest wave of Russian attacks has left several casualties and extensive damage in multiple cities and towns around the area.

According to Ukrainian military reports, 71 drones were launched from Russia in an overnight offensive targeting areas including the Kyiv region, the Sumy border region, and the central Kirovograd and Poltava regions. The Ukrainian Air Force reported a robust response, intercepting and downing 39 of the drones. However, 21 were lost, and five reportedly returned to Russia.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed, “Unfortunately, the attack by Russian drones caused damage and casualties in various districts of Kyiv.” The recent assaults, he stated, underscore a pressing need for stronger international action, asserting that “constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities prove that the pressure on Russia and its accomplices is not enough.”

However, despite the intercept efforts, the drones inflicted significant destruction, scattering debris across four regions and impacting residential areas in Kyiv, Sumy, and the Black Sea Odesa region. The Kyiv Military Administration detailed that debris from the downed drones rained down on six different districts within the capital, damaging apartment blocks, and vehicles, and igniting fires that emergency crews struggled to contain.

The attacks have not only caused structural damage but also inflicted severe casualties. In the Kyiv region, an 82-year-old woman was injured by shrapnel, sustaining head wounds, officials reported. In the capital itself, a police officer was among those injured, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the strikes.

Last night, Russia terrorized Ukraine with over 50 strike drones, and over the past week, it has used more than 900 bombs, around 30 missiles, and nearly 500 “Shaheds” against various regions of Ukraine.

Most of these strikes have targeted civilian and critical infrastructure.… pic.twitter.com/8bmTvdrceG

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 3, 2024

Further south, near Kherson, Russian artillery strikes compounded the toll on civilians. Local Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported that artillery fire killed a 40-year-old woman in a village outside the city. Four others, including three children, sustained injuries in the attack.

The assault also struck a hospital in Kherson, causing damage to two wards and a laboratory. Fortunately, patients and staff were unharmed as they had taken shelter in anticipation of potential strikes.

President Zelenskyy’s appeal to the international community underscores Ukraine’s urgent call for increased support and heightened sanctions against Russia. As he stated, “constant terrorist attacks on Ukrainian cities prove that the pressure on Russia and its accomplices is not enough,” urging allies to ramp up economic and military pressures to counter Moscow’s increasingly aggressive strategies.

Ukraine’s response

As Ukraine’s air defense intercepts drones in the skies, its ground forces are also facing mounting challenges. Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief, General Oleksandr Syrsky, noted that Ukrainian forces are currently “holding back one of the most powerful Russian offensives since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.” The statement reflects the ongoing intensity of conflict on the frontlines, where Russian forces have reportedly intensified their push, challenging Ukraine’s defenses across multiple battlefronts.

The Ukrainian army’s ability to resist these offensives amid relentless drone and artillery attacks has underscored the importance of military support from international allies. Advanced air defense systems, which have been instrumental in intercepting many of the drones, remain a critical component in Ukraine’s efforts to protect its cities and civilian populations from aerial assaults.

The latest wave of drone and artillery attacks raises critical questions for Ukraine’s allies and the broader international community. The ongoing pressure on civilian and urban areas in Ukraine not only highlights the devastating impacts of the conflict but also places an urgent demand on diplomatic and humanitarian responses. As Ukraine continues to withstand both air and ground offensives, the calls for enhanced defensive and economic measures against Russia are likely to intensify on the global stage.