Ukraine said on Saturday it had been hit by a volley of explosive drones overnight, some of which reached the relatively peaceful Lviv region in the west of the war-torn country.
Russia regularly strikes Ukraine with missiles, artillery and drones, often causing painful power outages that prevent people from keeping warm in their homes or getting drinking water.
“At around 9:00 p.m. on March 17, 2023, Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 kamikaze attack drones,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in a Telegram message.
It added that 11 of the 16 drones were “destroyed.”
According to the information of the Air Force, the strike was carried out from the Sea of Azov and from the Bran region of Russia, which borders Ukraine.
Part of the drones targeted the west of the Lviv region.
“Around one o’clock in the morning, our region was attacked by Shahed-136 kamikaze drones.” According to preliminary information, there were six of them,” said regional governor Maksim Kazitsky.
He added that three were shot down, and three more drones “hit non-residential premises” in the Yavorivsky District, causing destruction, but causing no injuries.
In the southeast of the Dnipropetrovs’ka region, three drones were shot down by anti-aircraft defense, the chairman of the regional council Mikalai Lukashuk said.
“Two more hit a critically important facility in Novomoskovsk,” Lukashuk added.
He said the attack caused a fire and “significant” damage.
According to Lukashuk, the fire destroyed four houses and damaged another six. No one was hurt.
Drones also struck the capital city of Kyiv, the city administration reports.
“Our air defense forces destroyed all air targets,” the social media said, adding that there were no casualties or damage.