BLOG The biggest drone attack on Kiev so far, Zelensky proposes imposing sanctions on Iran for 50 years

War in Ukraine – 459th day

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Detail from Kiev after the attack, Photo: Reuters
Detail from Kiev after the attack, Photo: Reuters
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.
Ažurirano: 28.05.2023. 21:55h
Finished
19: 54h

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed a bill that would impose sanctions on Iran for 50 years, Ukrainian President Andriy Yermak's chief of staff said, in response to what Kiev claims is Tehran's supply of weapons to Moscow.

Kiev and its allies claim that Iran has been supplying Russia with weapons, including hundreds of drones, since the start of the war in Ukraine. Tehran rejected those accusations, reminds Reuters.

If the law is adopted by the Ukrainian parliament, it would stop the transit of Iranian goods through Ukraine and the use of its airspace, as well as the introduction of trade, financial and technological sanctions against Iran and its citizens.

19: 53h

The Ukrainian authorities announced today that their air defenses shot down 58 of the 59 explosive drones that Russian forces attacked the country, mostly Kiev, during the previous night.

"Russia has carried out another major attack on the territory of Ukraine using Iranian attack drones 'Shahed'," the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army announced.

It is added that, according to new data, the Ukrainian army shot down 58 out of 59 drones.

It was previously reported that 52 out of 54 drones were destroyed.

(BETA)

15: 37h

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked the parliament to cut off all relations with Iran for 50 years because that country supplies Russia with drones and other military equipment.

"Special economic and other restrictive measures against Iran should be applied for a period of 50 years," states the draft resolution proposed by Zelenski, writes the Guardian.

Zelenski, as he said, decided to take that step after today's biggest drone attack on Kiev. Ukrainian officials announced that Russia used Iranian-made Shahed drones for the attack.

The Russian army launched more than 40 drones at Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, which were shot down by air defense systems last night, killing one person.

Previously, Ukrainian media reported that explosions were heard in numerous regions, including Zhytomyr and Sumy regions, and that an air alert was declared in most of Ukraine, including Kyiv and Kyiv region.

(BETA)

Change: 15:38 p.m
08: 43h

Russia carried out another massive drone attack on the Ukrainian capital of Kiev, killing at least one person, local officials said, reports Radio Free Europe (RSE).

Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said a man was killed when the wreckage of a drone fell near a gas station and a woman was injured.

In total, Russia launched 54 so-called kamikaze drones at Ukrainian targets, of which 52 were shot down, the Ukrainian Air Force reported.

More than 40 drones were shot down in Kyiv alone, officials said, writes the BBC, RSE reports.

This information has not been independently verified.

Russia, which began its full-scale invasion in February 2022, has stepped up its attacks on Kiev in recent weeks, seeking to overwhelm the capital's defenses.

Early Sunday, air raid warnings were activated in 12 regions of Ukraine, from Volyn in the northwest to Dnipropetrovsk in the southeast.

In a post on social media, Klitschko called on Kiev residents to "stay in shelters", warning of waves of drone attacks and a "difficult night ahead".

He said at least two tall buildings in different districts of the capital were set on fire after being hit by drone fragments.

Kyiv officials also reported that warehouses in the southern district of Holosiyevsky were on fire. Emergency workers have been hired.

The latest attack comes as the city's residents mark the annual Kyiv Day - a popular holiday in peaceful times.

There were also reports of explosions in the city of Zhytomyr, west of Kiev.

The alert was later lifted in the capital and throughout the country.

In its recent attacks, Russia has used so-called kamikaze drones, as well as a range of cruise and ballistic missiles.

The attacks came ahead of a widely expected Ukrainian counter-offensive.

On Saturday, one of Ukraine's top security officials told the BBC that the country was ready to launch such an operation.

Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, said that the attack to retake the territory from the occupying forces of President Vladimir Putin could begin "tomorrow, the day after tomorrow or in a week."

Ukraine has been planning a counter-offensive for months. But she wanted as much time as possible to train troops and receive military equipment from the Western Allies.

Meanwhile, Russian forces are preparing defenses in the occupied regions of southeastern Ukraine.

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