Russia Unleashes Jet-Powered Drone Waves on Kyiv as Depleted Air Defenses Open New War Phase
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 31
Russia Unleashes Jet-Powered Drone Waves on Kyiv as Depleted Air Defenses Open New War Phase
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 31
Summary
Jet-powered Russian drones have begun hitting Kyiv in near-continuous waves, turning what were once mostly overnight barrages into all-day attacks across busy parts of the capital.
The faster drones are harder to intercept and leave little time to flee, a shift enabled as Moscow exploits depleted Ukrainian air defenses already strained by stronger ballistic-missile threats.
Kyiv residents now face what many see as the city’s most dangerous and unpredictable period since the opening weeks of Russia’s 2022 invasion, with air-raid sirens sounding almost constantly.
Obolon’s crowded cafes and other public spaces still filled over the weekend despite the alarms, underscoring how the new tactic is colliding with civilians’ attempts to preserve normal summer life.