On Saturday, December 4, the capital of Ukraine, Kyiv, was the target of the largest drone attack by Russia since the beginning of the war in March 2022. The sound of air defense and explosions that began in the early hours of Saturday woke the residents of Kyiv, and the wave of attacks intensified across various parts of the city with the sunrise. The air raid sirens continued for six hours. Reports indicate that these attacks left five people injured. The Ukrainian Air Force initially announced that it had shot down 71 out of 75 drones, but later revised the number of downed drones to 74. Mykola Olshchuk, the head of the Ukrainian Air Force, praised the effectiveness of the 'mobile fire' units, which consist of fast-moving trucks equipped with machine guns or anti-aircraft 'Flak' guns. According to him, these units shot down nearly 40 percent of the drones. Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, wrote on Telegram that five people, including an 11-year-old girl, were injured in these attacks, and buildings throughout the city were damaged. He added that parts of a downed drone also caused a fire in a kindergarten. Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, noted that this attack occurred in the early hours of Saturday, on a day when Ukrainians remember their 'worst national disaster' - the Great Famine of 1932-1933. During that famine, known as 'Holodomor,' millions perished from starvation. Zelensky wrote on Telegram, 'Deliberate terrorism... the Russian leader takes pride in the fact that they can [kill people].' He has previously drawn parallels between the Great Famine of Ukraine and the current Russian invasion. Ukraine and more than 30 other countries consider the Holodomor to be an 'artificial' famine and a genocide of the Ukrainian people by the Soviet Union. The Soviet Union, which governed Ukraine at that time, sought to thwart the country's aspirations for independence. Moscow denies the claim that deaths during the famine were due to a deliberate genocidal policy, stating that Russians and other ethnic groups in the region also suffered from famine at that time.
Largest Russian Drone Attack on Kyiv on the Day of Commemoration of the Great Famine in Ukraine
Kyiv experienced the largest drone attack from Russia since the war began, coinciding with the commemoration of the Great Famine. Five people were injured, and the Ukrainian Air Force reported a high interception rate of the drones. This attack underscores the ongoing conflict and its historical parallels to past tragedies in Ukraine.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Kyiv experienced the largest drone attack from Russia since the war began, resulting in five injuries and significant damage. The attack coincided with Ukraine's commemoration of the Great Famine, highlighting historical grievances.
- Ukrainian Air Force shot down 74 out of 75 drones.
- The attack occurred on a significant day of remembrance for Ukraine.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Great Famine, or Holodomor, was a devastating event in Ukrainian history, leading to millions of deaths and is considered by many as a genocide against Ukrainians. The current conflict with Russia has revived these historical grievances.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%