Ukraine reels from deadly Russian drone attacks

By Stefan J. Bos  

As believers prayed for ill brothers and sisters, Ukraine tried to come to grips with another night when Russia launched scores of drones on Kyiv and southern Ukraine, injuring at least one civilian.

The attacks damaged a natural gas pipeline and residential buildings in the river and seaport of Mykolaiv.

Ukraine's southern military command said its air defense systems were engaged for more than five hours and destroyed 26 Russia-launched Shahed drones over several southern areas, mainly the Mykolaiv region near the Black Sea.

However, there was some hopeful news in Kyiv, the capital, where officials said 40 of 45 drones were downed on their approach, and there were no casualties nor destruction in or near the capital.

But the latest Russian strikes involving Iranian-made drones came after earlier on Saturday, authorities confirmed that in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, seven people, including three children, died in Russian air strikes.

Yet footage has also emerged of rescuers saving the lives of women and children after a patrol station was hit and its fire quickly spread to many homes.

Russian tactics

Ukrainian officials said that Russia had launched dozens of Shahed drones in total, mainly at Kharkiv and Odesa but also at Reni and Izmail in Ukraine's Danube Delta area. Of the 31 drones fired at Ukraine, Ukraine's Air Force said that 23 were shot down.

The attacks reflect Russian tactics of hitting port and grain export infrastructure. Odesa is Ukraine's largest port, and ports at Reni and Izmail are essential for sending grain to Europe through the Danube River.

While Russian ministers have boasted of increasing arms production and signing supply deals with Iran and North Korea, Ukrainian commanders have complained that they are running short of arms supplied by their Western allies.

The casualties caused by these weapons have increased concerns that Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War Two will impact several generations, with hundreds of thousands of people dead and injured on both sides.

No business?

Those satellites had been crucial for Ukraine's war effort, and Russia's ability to use them would undermine Kyiv's tactical maneuvers.

However, SpaceX, which runs the Starlink system, said last week that it "does not do business of any kind with the Russian government or its military" and that its service does not work in Russia.

But as fighting continues, Britain's well-informed Ministry of Defense said there were indications that Russia's war with Ukraine is impacting civilians on both sides.

Just as in Ukraine, hospitals in Russia are also hit by the war.

British defense officials said on the World Day of the Sick that the armed conflict is contributing to a shortage of healthcare professionals across Russia.

And with the number of injured and killed people rapidly rising, hospitals are now confronted with significant challenges to care for them.