Russia increases frequency of drone attacks on Kyiv, prompting record air-raid alerts
Ukraine reported a surge in one-way drone strikes on Kyiv, resulting in the longest daily air-raid alert period since the war began, while officials said Moscow may be adopting a strategy aimed at wearing down the population and exhausting air defenses.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said Russian forces launched an unprecedented number of one-way drone waves against Kyiv on Thursday, keeping the capital under air-raid alert for 872 minutes – almost 15 hours – the longest single-day alert period since the conflict began. The attacks differed from previous mass barrages that concentrate missiles and drones in short bursts; instead, they arrived in small groups throughout the day, a pattern officials say may be intended to disrupt civilian life and strain air-defence resources.
"Again and again throughout the day, sirens sounded as Russia launched drones in small groups towards the Ukrainian capital," the ministry posted on X.
The Kyiv Independent noted the record surpassed the previous high of 12 alerts in one day set on March 1, 2022. By the morning of Aug. 28, eight additional alerts had been issued as Russian strikes continued around the city and its outskirts.
Iryna Terekh, chief executive of drone manufacturer Fire Point, said the sustained barrage appears designed to erode public morale and wear down resistance. A retired Ukrainian officer echoed the view, suggesting the pressure could backfire by increasing anger toward Russia.
In a separate incident, a Russian strike on a warehouse near the village of Myla killed at least 37 people and injured 15. President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed negligence for storing explosives near residential buildings and announced an investigation involving the Prosecutor General’s Office and security agencies. The Ukrainian defence ministry called for a comprehensive audit of all ammunition depots located close to civilian areas.
The latest Institute for the Study of War assessment indicated that Russian forces continued offensive operations in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and other fronts on Aug. 26-27 but made no confirmed territorial gains.
In related developments, Ukraine reported that its Alpha Unit damaged a Russian Tu-95MS bomber at Engels Air Base, while the United States reportedly discussed the conflict with Russian officials following a visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Moscow.
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the president’s office, said Ukraine must mobilise about 30,000 troops each month to sustain its defence, acknowledging the challenges of forced conscription.
The Ukrainian defence ministry also highlighted an AI-driven sandbox platform that provides developers with battlefield data to improve weapon-targeting systems, noting that over 100 domestic companies are using the tool to train models on real-world combat footage.