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The Ukrainian military shot down 15 Russian cruise missiles and 21 drones that attacked the Kyiv region. Photo/REUTERS
KYIV – Military Ukraine said on Friday (2/6/2023) that it shot down 15 cruise missiles and drones Russia in and around the capital city; Kyiv, on Thursday evening until early this morning.
Two people were injured by falling debris before authorities lifted air raid warnings over large parts of the country.
Russia has launched some 20 missile and drone attacks on Kyiv since early May, a surge in attacks the government says appears aimed at derailing Ukraine’s preparations for a massive counteroffensive.
The Ukrainian Air Force said its air defenses had shot down 15 cruise missiles and 21 drones. A wave of drones was launched late Thursday, followed by cruise missile fire while people were sleeping at around 3am.
“The invaders have not stopped their attempts to terrorize the Ukrainian capital with drone and missile attacks,” the Air Force said in a statement.
The capital’s military authority, writing on Telegram, praised the city’s air defenses and said there were no reports of damage or casualties.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko, who previously reported two separate waves of attacks, wrote on Telegram that there had been no calls for rescue services.
In the outer region of Kyiv, authorities said two people were injured by falling debris, including a child.
“In addition, the falling debris damaged five private houses,” the state administration said on Telegram.
Ukraine says it destroyed most of the missiles and drones used by Russian troops in the attack, but a nine-year-old girl was among three people killed in a missile strike in Kyiv on Thursday after the shelter they were at failed to open.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said if local officials could not provide protection, they could be sued.
Russian officials reported more cross-border shelling from Ukraine on Friday and said two long-range drones had struck fuel and energy infrastructure further north in Russia but no fires had been reported there and no injuries reported.
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