Ukraine news: Kiev once again the target of many Russian drones

The essentials in brief:

• Klitschko: More than 20 drones shot down, including fatalities
• Zelenskyj: 220 Russian companies and 51 people on the terror list
• Speculations about Ukrainian counter-offensive

The Ukrainian capital Kiev was again the target of “massive” Russian drone attacks during the night. A 41-year-old man was killed by falling debris from a drone near a gas station in Solomjanskyi district, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. A 35-year-old woman was taken to the hospital. According to Klitschko, a fire also broke out in a company in Holosiivskyi district.

According to the mayor, the capital’s air defenses were able to shoot down “more than 20 drones.” He warned of another wave of drone strikes “coming from multiple directions at the same time.” Klitschko therefore called on the residents of Kiev to stay in the shelters.

The dawn attacks came on the last Sunday in May, when the capital celebrates Kyiv Day, the anniversary of its official founding 1,541 years ago. This day is usually marked with street parties, live concerts and special museum exhibitions, which are also planned for this year, albeit on a smaller scale.

Zelenskyj announces tougher sanctions against Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced even tougher sanctions against Russia in a bid to end the country’s war with Ukraine. “Today is another day of sanctions,” said Zelenskyj in his evening video message. He put 220 companies and 51 people on the list of those who “work for terror”. Most are armaments factories linked to Russian companies. “Enterprises that serve the war.” Not all of them are active on Russian soil. “But everyone will feel the global pressure,” said the head of state.

In this regard, Zelenskyy emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities were collecting data from everyone who supported Russia’s war. “Russia will gain nothing and lose everything. That will happen to everyone who helps it in this terror,” said Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy thanked Germany for the continued delivery of various defense equipment and weapons. This would strengthen the anti-aircraft defense and overall defense against Russian terror. He also thanked Finland for a new defense package.

Putin wants more border protection

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered increased border security to ensure “swift” movement to Ukrainian regions under Moscow control. “It is necessary to ensure the rapid transportation of military and civilian vehicles and goods, including food, humanitarian aid and building materials, sent to the new territories of the (Russian) Federation,” Putin said on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel.

Kherson, Zaporizhia, Luhansk and Donetsk are the four regions in Ukraine that Putin declared annexed last September. However, the Russian armed forces only partially control these four areas.

Russian governor speaks of artillery fire

The governor of the Russian region of Belgorod says he came under artillery fire near the Ukrainian border. The politician Vyacheslav Gladkov explained on Telegram that he was in the village of Schebekino, which is seven kilometers north of the border. “I couldn’t even get out of the car. Shells exploded in a neighboring street.”

When is the counterattack coming?

High-ranking Ukrainian officials are hinting that the widely awaited counterattack to recapture Russian-held territory will soon begin. The offensive could begin “tomorrow, the day after or in a week,” National Security Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov told the BBC.

The Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valery Zalushny, released a video showing Ukrainian soldiers taking an oath and preparing for battle, writing: “The time has come to take back what is ours.” Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podoliak told the Guardian that preparatory operations such as the destruction of Russian depots and supply routes had already begun.

sti/wa/haz/rb (dpa, afp, rtr)

This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.