Russian drone barrage on Kyiv enters fifth day

Russian drone assaults on Kyiv and surrounding regions have entered their fifth day, with non-stop air raid sirens disrupting daily life for millions. Early attacks injured four individuals and inflicted damage on warehouses, an apartment building, and a retail store in the Kyiv area, according to regional governor Tymur Tkachenko.

Russian drones, often jet-powered, have been a persistent issue in Kyiv and nearby areas, causing casualties, property damage, and widespread disruption. A drone strike on an ammunition depot on Friday resulted in explosions that killed 38 people. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that the relentless drone attacks aim to wear down the Ukrainian people.

Russia has launched nearly 1,500 drones at Ukraine in four days, with over half being jet-powered. Drone strikes have targeted economic sectors, including major e-commerce platforms, retailers, and key infrastructure like a Ukrainian supermarket chain, a major postal service, and a home-goods store. Ukraine has also struck Russian targets, including a logistics hub in Russia's Yekaterinburg.

The increasing use of daytime drone waves has caused significant disruption in Kyiv, halting public transportation and upending daily routines. Ukrainian nurse Yulianna Oliynyk and her two young sons were stranded on a metro platform during an air raid alert, waiting for the service to resume after trains stopped crossing the Dnipro River.

Another air raid alert left them on the platform for nearly an hour. The family had to spend the previous night with relatives after the alerts disrupted their journey home. Meanwhile, Polish prosecutors launched a terrorism investigation into a fire at a drone factory in central Skarzysko-Kamienna, Poland. The prosecution claims the fire was set deliberately and suspects involvement from a foreign intelligence service, with Poland accusing Russia of attempted sabotage since its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.