00:00In a significant escalation, Ukraine's air force announced that Russia launched 67 long-range
00:05Shahid drones overnight, with Ukrainian forces successfully shooting down 58 of them.
00:11This large-scale assault triggered air defense units across 11 regions in Ukraine,
00:16according to a statement released on the Telegram app.
00:19Debris from the downed drones was discovered near the Ukrainian parliament building in Kyiv.
00:25Images posted on the legislature's official Telegram account revealed several pieces
00:29of drone wreckage, including metal fragments scattered near the building's main entrance.
00:35It's highly unusual for Russian drones or missiles to reach so deep into central Kyiv,
00:40given the city's sophisticated air defense systems,
00:43which include both Soviet-era technology and Western-supplied systems.
00:48Kyiv's government quarter, where the president's office and other key institutions are located,
00:53is one of the most heavily protected areas in Ukraine.
00:57Reuters reporters on the ground heard multiple explosions just after 3 a.m. local time,
01:02shaking the city and waking up residents.
01:05Since the beginning of Russia's invasion in February 2022,
01:09Moscow has launched thousands of missiles and Shahid drones at Ukraine.
01:14These Iranian-designed drones have become a cost-effective alternative for Russia
01:18since September 2022, offering an expendable option compared to more
01:23expensive and harder-to-produce missiles. The slow-flying, propeller-powered Shahid
01:28drones are challenging for traditional air defense systems to track due to their low
01:32altitude and reduced heat signature. The drones in this latest attack were reportedly
01:37launched from Russian border regions and the Crimean Peninsula, which remains under Russian
01:42occupation.
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