Russian drones hit Kyiv early Saturday morning in what Ukraine says is the largest drone attack since the war began. According to Kyiv officials, five people have been wounded by this Russian drone attack. Many analysts see this attack as the beginning of Russia’s plans to destroy Ukraine’s energy system this winter.

According to Ukraine’s air force, 74 drones were shot down by the military’s air defense systems throughout the country. About 66 of those downed drones were shot down over Kyiv, or Kyiv’s surrounding regions. 

Civilians living in Kyiv were woken up early to explosions throughout the city amid the huge attack. The air raid warning system was reportedly on for about six hours.

Kyiv has been hit by what Ukraine's air force described as the largest Russian drone attack of the war so far

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Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram that five people have been injured in Kyiv as a result of this massive drone attack by Russia. Of those five people, one is an 11-year-old girl. Klitschko also wrote that the drones damaged many buildings across the entire city. A children’s nursery also caught on fire from a downed drone.

Ukraine, as well as many analysts, have warned that Russia would likely begin to try to destroy Ukraine’s energy system. Russia also tried to do this last year. Though it’s not clear what Russia’s end game was with this large drone attack, many are already claiming their goal was to hurt Kyiv’s ability to keep power during the cold winter months.

To some degree, Russia was successful. According to Ukraine’s energy ministry, about 200 buildings lost power because of this recent drone attack.

This incredibly large drone attack also comes on the anniversary of the 1932-33 Holodomor famine, which caused several million Ukrainians to starve to death. Many Ukrainians consider this famine to be their worst national tragedy, one that was reportedly conducted on purpose by the Soviet Union.

While Ukraine and more than 30 other countries consider Holodomor a genocide committed by the Soviet Union, a claim Russia continues to deny. Instead, Russia states that many Russians also suffered as a result of the famine. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also brought up the Holodomor famine when talking about Russia’s latest drone strike. On Telegram, he wrote, “Wilful terror… The Russian leadership is proud of the fact that it can kill.”