Ukrainian official says kamikaze drones are attacking Kyiv

(Image credit: Yasuyoshia Chiba/AFP via Getty Images)

published 17 October 2022

Explosions are being reported in Kyiv on Monday morning, with Ukrainian officials saying drones supplied to Russia from Iran have hit several targets, including the headquarters of Ukraine's national energy utility.

So far, no deaths or injuries have been reported. Ukrainian soldiers stationed at checkpoints across the city are firing at the drones, The New York Times says, and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko shared on the Telegram app that several residential buildings in the Shevchenkivskiy area have been damaged.

Andriy Yermak, head of Ukraine's presidential office, said the attacks have been carried out by kamikaze drones, which can hover for several hours before hitting their targets and exploding. He has asked for additional air defense systems "as soon as possible." Ukraine says Iran has given these kamikaze drones to Russia, and the U.S. and allied security officials believe the country is preparing to send even more arms to Russia in an attempt to offset its massive loss of military equipment, The Washington Post reports. Iran has denied supplying the drones to Russia.

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Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.