Ukraine: Russian forces relentlessly battered Kyiv and cities in the region around the Ukrainian capital for a fifth straight day on Monday, leaving some supermarket shelves bare after repeated strikes on warehouses as Ukraine reels from attacks involving jet-powered drones.
Russia has intensified its aerial attacks in recent months, more than four years after it invaded its neighbor. Almost constant air raid alerts in the Kyiv region in recent days have severely disrupted daily routines. Two major attacks in July killed almost 50 civilians, while a strike on Saturday killed at least 38 people.
Classes were due to resume at Ukrainian schools on Tuesday, but it remained unclear whether parents would send their children. Schools have air raid shelters, and classes can also be conducted online. However, about 1 million textbooks have been destroyed in Russian attacks on publishing houses, potentially delaying deliveries for the start of the school year, Ukraine’s Education Ministry said earlier this month.
“Right now, Russia’s tactic is to wear down Ukraine and Ukrainians: first and foremost, our people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on social media late Sunday.
Ukraine has also attempted to make Russian civilians feel the burden of the war by striking major online retailers and oil facilities. The attacks have caused shortages for ordinary Russians, although Ukrainian strikes have not been as deadly for civilians.
A pall of black smoke drifted over Kyiv on Monday morning. In Brovary and Boryspil, cities in the Kyiv region, aerial attacks struck several warehouses and wounded four people, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration.
Zelenskyy acknowledged on social media that Ukraine is struggling to counter fast-flying jet-propelled drones that Russia is increasingly deploying.
Between Thursday and Sunday, Russia fired almost 1,500 drones at Ukraine, with around 800 of them jet-powered, Zelenskyy said.
Combat aircraft are currently being used to intercept the jet-powered versions while Ukraine works to develop more effective technology.
“Four companies have developed the relevant interceptor drones, and one company has the most successful technology,” Zelenskyy said. He did not provide further details.
Repeated Russian strikes on food distribution centers and retail hubs have disrupted Ukrainian logistics, leaving some supermarket shelves bare and fueling public concern about shortages.
Those concerns prompted Zelenskyy adviser Serhii Beskrestnov to say on social media Monday that Ukraine will not go hungry.
He urged the public not to give in to rumors, disinformation or panic, saying producers and retailers are currently restructuring supply chains.
He added that European countries would be ready to fill any food supply shortfall if necessary.
At the same time, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, seeking to leave civilians without heating and running water as winter approaches.
Russian forces launched what officials described as a massive overnight drone attack on Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region, which borders Russia. An energy facility was damaged, according to Viacheslav Chaus, head of the regional military administration. He did not provide details about the extent of the damage.
The Russian Defense Ministry said Sunday that it was preparing “massive strikes” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
Russia overnight shot down 239 Ukrainian drones over 14 Russian regions, occupied Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea, the Defense Ministry in Moscow said Monday.
A Ukrainian missile attack Sunday evening on the Russian border city of Belgorod killed three people, acting regional Governor Alexander Shuvayev said.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone attack wounded four people in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg, regional Governor Denis Pasler said Monday. Yekaterinburg is Russia’s fourth-largest city, located more than 2,000 kilometers (1,250 miles) from Ukraine’s border, and is an industrial hub.
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