The capital of Ukraine, Kyivwas targeted early Saturday morning by the largest Russian drone attack since the beginning of the invasion, in February 2022, which left five people injured and dozens of buildings without electricity.
The bombing occurs on the day of commemoration in Ukraine of the Holodomorthe great famine of the 1930s, during the Soviet era, a “genocide” orchestrated according to kyiv by Joseph Stalin and which caused the death of millions of Ukrainians.
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On Saturday morning the Air Force Ukraine claimed to have shot down 71 attack drones Shahid of Iranian manufacture launched overnight by Russia.
“Most of them were destroyed in the region of Kyiv”he claimed.
Five people, including an 11-year-old boy, were injured, local authorities said, claiming it was the “most massive attack since the beginning of the invasion” of Ukraine.
The aerial alert in the capital lasted six hours and falling debris from drones caused fires and damage to several buildings, added the mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko.
“The enemy continues to spread terror”lament.
The attack also caused large-scale power outages in the capital after the rupture of “a power line.” electrical power supply”, according to the Ministry of Energy of the country, where there are temperatures below zero.
AFP journalists saw residents cleaning windows in the district Dniprovskywhere ambulances were also seen.
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“Symbolic” election
Viktor Vassylenko, a 38-year-old resident, said he tried to calm his young daughter all night during the attack, overcome with “panic and nausea.”
“My wife thought the house would collapse in half,” he added.
As winter approaches, Kiev fears a new massive Russian bombing campaign against its energy infrastructure, a situation similar to that of winter 2022, when millions of people were deprived of electricity amid a cold wave.
According to Ukrainian authorities, Russia made the decision “symbolic” to launch this great attack on Saturday because Ukraine commemorated the Holodomor.
According to Moscow This famine caused victims not only Ukrainians, but also Russians, Kazakhs and other nationalities, in a context of collectivization of the lands.
“More than 70 [drones] Shahid during the night of the commemoration of Holodomor (…) Russian leaders are proud of their ability to kill”said the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
In a statement, the head of state later considered “impossible to forget, understand and above all forgive the horrible crimes of genocide that Ukrainians suffered in the 20th century” during the Holodomor.
“They tried to subdue us, kill us, exterminate us”he also said. “They failed”.
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Cereals
The president of USA, Joe Bidenestimated for his part in a commemorative message of the Holodomor that “Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure is again being deliberately targeted” by Russia.
The Ukrainian grain export has been hampered by war.
Ukraine was able to export its agricultural production through the Sea Black for almost a year thanks to an agreement with Russia.
But in July Moscow ended the pact and has repeatedly bombed the infrastructure ukrainian ports.
Since then, Kyiv has established a new corridor in the Black Seabut remains little used due to the risks incurred by ships.
Ukrainian agricultural exports are also causing tensions in neighboring EU countries. European Union and, in particular, in Polandwhere truckers and farmers blocked border crossings for several days.
Zelensky acknowledged on Saturday “difficulties“on the border, questioning”certain political decisions taken by neighbors of his country.
