Ukrainian air defenses shoot down all 13 drones in morning attack on Kyiv – Air Force
Today, the Ukrainian air defense system worked very effectively, the Air Force noted (Photo:REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)
Ukraine’s air defenses shot down all 13 Iranian flying bomb drones that Russia aimed at the capital city Kyiv early on Dec. 14, Kyiv Military Administration has reported.
Air raid sirens sounded at 5.55 a.m. in the capital, as air defenses spotted the swarm of killer drones approaching from the direction of the Sea of Azov. By 8.10 a.m., the Ukrainian Air Force reported on its Telegram channel that 10 of the drones had been downed, but that air defenses were still working.
The Iranian Shahed-136 and Shahed-131 drones targeted Kyiv and its surrounding oblast, or region. The sound of the distinctive engine noise from the drones, and explosions as they were shot down, could be heard across the capital.
The all-clear sounded at 9.07 a.m. with the raid having lasted 3 hours and 12 minutes – relatively long due to the slow speed of the drones, which were spotted long before they reached Kyiv.
Air Force Command spokesman Yuriy Ihnat, speaking on the Kyiv TV channel immediately after the raid, said the capital’s air defenses had proved to be very effective.
“This is an ordinary morning in a country at war,” Ihnat said.
“Today was an effective day for our air defenses. Kyiv Oblast is a priority target for the enemy. They attack the capital with both missiles and kamikaze drones.”
“Unfortunately, we live in such realities and we have to expect this. An example of this is Israel, which is ready for provocations every day. We must strengthen our air defenses, which we ask of the countries that support us. Let me remind you: that’s 50 countries.
“But we would like more air defense equipment.”
Ukraine recently received advance air defense systems, including the NASAMS and IRIS-T surface-to-air missile systems, following several mass missile attacks on the country by Russia.
Ukraine has also received Gepard mobile anti-aircraft guns – a radar guided system mounted on a tank-like chassis – which the Ukrainian military has praised as proving highly effective against the Iranian drones Russia uses to attack civilian infrastructure in the country.
Russia has since Oct. 10 stepped up its attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, seeking to deny Ukrainians heat, power and water during winter. The Kremlin believes this will cause the population to demand that the government in Kyiv seek a ceasefire.
Russia badly needs a ceasefire to give respite to its military, which has been badly mauled in 10 months of fighting in Ukraine.
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