On Saturday, Ukraine announced an increase in nighttime drone attacks launched by Russia, and accused it of launching 38 drones on its territory, the highest number in more than six weeks.
The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 29 out of 38 Iranian-made Shahed drones — also called “kamikaze drones” because they were loaded with explosives set to explode when they hit their target — that Russia launched.
According to her, this is the largest number of drones launched by Russia during a night attack since September 30.
Ukrainian emergency services said an energy facility was bombed in the southern Odessa region and the resulting fire was quickly extinguished.
Moreover, the Ukrainian General Staff announced on Saturday that its forces “continue to maintain their positions on the left (eastern) bank of the Dnieper River.”
For more than a year, Ukrainian and Russian forces have been holed up on both banks of the broad river in the southern Kherson region, after Russia withdrew its forces from the West Bank last November.
Ukrainian forces have repeatedly tried to cross and maintain their positions on the Russian-controlled side, with officials in Kiev finally announcing a “successful” breakthrough last week.
The General Staff said during a press conference on Saturday morning about its operations on the eastern bank of the river: “Our defenders are strengthening their positions and firing at the occupiers.”
The Russian Defense Ministry also said it shot down a Ukrainian drone over the Bryansk border region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that he expects Russia to intensify its attacks on Ukraine’s energy system, with the aim of crippling the country’s heat and electricity supplies during the cold winter months. He added that Russia is stockpiling missiles for these attacks.
Last winter, Russian strikes left millions of Ukrainians without power for hours in subzero temperatures.
Kiev and Moscow used attack and reconnaissance drones extensively throughout the 21-month war.
