Attack of drones Hours was buzzing by kyiv

Large -scale Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian cities are increasing.

On Monday night, the bombing, though not a record violation, was characteristic of a new norm.

Within hours after the north, the drones were constantly buzzing over Kiev.

They seemed to go on almost all sides when the floodlights rake the sky, and the orange fires of the orange movement rose from the air defense units located around the city.

When every drone was approaching, the streets would respond with a deep crash of heavy fire.

From our hotel the fire could be considered from afar, because the fiery orange moon, almost full, slowly faded, as if not wanting to compete.

Loud explosions would mean successful interception or drone that reached its goal.

Sitting under all this drama, it is difficult to maintain a sense of perspective.

The word “massive” is regularly used in official statements.

But the gaze on the statistics tells about the unmistakable story: away with a sharp increase in the number of drones.

Three months before August last year, Russia released only 1,100, said the General Staff of Ukraine.

Then there was a steep growth, 818 drones were recorded in August, in September 1410 or more than 2000 in October.

But the numbers just keep going up.

In May, the number of drones exceeded 4,000 for the first time. This month will probably set a new record.

Since the beginning of June, Russia has released an average of 256 shells every 24 hours, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The vast majority of them are drones, including Shahed type models and various baits designed to confuse Ukraine’s air defense systems.

Russia first began to use Iranian martyrs – the word means “martyr” – at the end of 2022.

But until next summer, it produced its own version, known as the Grand, in the special economic zone in Elabuz, in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan.

According to the press secretary of the Security Service of Ukraine Artem Dehtyarenko, the SBU, 25,000 drones were made there, another 20,000 collected from previously delivered Iranian components.

Of the 315, 250, 250 were the actual shock drones, according to the press secretary of the Ukrainian Air Force Yuri Inat.

“Most of them went specifically for Kyiv,” he told the Ukrainian RBC agency.

In total, seven ballistic and cruise missiles were also released in the capital.

This meant another sleepless night for the long -suffering Kyiv population.

“It has become more intense,” Katya’s resident told me.

“It used to be easier emotionally. Now it is getting harder.”

And this is not just the intensity of the strikes. After hundreds of similar nights people in Kiev It can feel subtle shifts in technology as Russia develops its capabilities.

“There are more drones with a slightly different sound than before,” Katya said.

Dehtienko SBU says Russia makes constant modifications.

“Russian engineers were tasked with increasing their destructive power to maximize the destruction and victims of the civilian population,” he said.

“In addition, efforts are made to make the geranium drones less vulnerable to Ukrainian air defense.”

The flat blocks and office buildings were among the places affected on Monday. Kyiv usually avoids saying if the damage was caused by everything that could be considered a military goal.

But the statement of the Ministry of Culture states that for the first time the Cathedral of Saint -Sophia Kyiv felt influenced.

Senta -Safei is the UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Ukraine’s most significant cultural and religious monuments with impressive mosaics and frescoes of the 11th century.

It is said that the explosive wave damaged the plastered cornice on the east facade, but did not affect the interior.

“However, any vibrational impact caused by the explosions poses a serious threat to the integrity of the structure,” the ministry said.