Kiev: Russia again attacked targets in Ukraine with dozens of combat drones on Friday, just a day after a similar, massive night-time drone attack. Anti-aircraft fire could be heard in Kiev in the evening, and warnings were issued in southern Ukraine of drone attacks originating from the Black Sea. Air raid sirens echoed through more than half of Ukraine's regions.
According to Ghana News Agency, after the previous night's massive drone attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the successful deployment of interceptor drones against the explosive-laden Russian drones targeting Kiev. In his daily address, Zelensky stated, "Dozens of shaheds [attack drones] have just been shot down with interceptors." He also issued directives to produce more unmanned counter-measures and to train the necessary drone pilots.
On Thursday night, Ukrainian officials reported that the Russian military launched over 539 drones of various types at targets in Ukraine, primarily in Kiev. The Ukrainian air force managed to intercept almost 90% of them using different means. However, the information could not be independently verified.
Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian invasion for over three years, urging Western allies to supply new air defense systems due to the intensity of air attacks. The latest attacks have sparked concerns in Kiev about the potential cessation of some US-supplied weapons, which are crucial for Ukraine's defense.
Ahead of a partial freeze in US arms deliveries, Zelensky revealed that he had a "very important and fruitful conversation" with US President Donald Trump on Friday. "We - in Ukraine - are grateful for all the support provided. It helps us protect lives, safeguard our freedom and independence," said Zelensky. He emphasized the joint efforts with America to achieve a just and lasting peace.
The conversation coincided with Russia's massive bombardment of Kiev overnight, shortly after Trump communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine's reliance on US support has been significant since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. However, the Pentagon recently announced a withholding of previously agreed arms deliveries to Kiev due to an inventory review, reportedly affecting Patriot missiles vital for Ukraine's air defense.
Zelensky and Trump discussed current developments, including Russian airstrikes and broader frontline issues. "We spoke about opportunities in air defense and agreed that we will work together to strengthen protection of our skies," Zelensky stated. He also expressed gratitude to Trump and the American people for their support.
In a related development, power was restored to the nuclear power plant in Ukraine's south-eastern Zaporizhzhya region after an outage earlier in the day, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported. The outage, lasting three and a half hours, highlighted ongoing nuclear safety concerns in Ukraine. IAEA chief Rafael Grossi emphasized the precarious nature of nuclear safety in the region, citing repeated power losses at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant.
The plant, the largest in Europe, requires a stable power supply for its cooling systems to maintain safety standards. The Ukrainian side attributed the latest safety alert to Russian shelling. The IAEA has been actively involved in monitoring and protecting Ukraine's nuclear facilities since the escalation of the conflict in 2022, maintaining a permanent presence at the Zaporizhzhya plant since September of that year.
