Russian Drone Barrage Hits Kyiv, Injures 2 as Strikes Pound Zaporizhzhia and Sumy

Russian drones attacked Kyiv from multiple directions early Thursday, Feb. 4, damaging buildings in four districts of the capital and injuring two elderly women.

Mayor Vitalyi Klitschko said on Telegram that in Solomianskyi district a 79-year-old woman was hospitalized, while an 89-year-old woman received medical treatment on the spot.

In Solomianskyi district, debris fell at several locations. Windows were shattered in two high-rise buildings, facades were damaged, and parked cars were hit. Debris also damaged a kindergarten’s facade and windows, and fell near a shopping center. No fires were reported.

In Obolonskyi district, falling UAV debris ignited cars in a parking lot. Rescuers quickly extinguished the blaze.

In Shevchenkivskyi district, debris struck the roof of a four-story office building, causing a fire that was later put out by the State Emergency Service (DSNS).

In Darnytskyi district, debris landed near a café on the ground floor of a residential building. The structure was not damaged, and no casualties were reported.

Kyiv’s air raid alert began around 2 a.m. and lasted roughly two and a half hours. Police and emergency crews are working at impact sites, documenting damage and assisting residents.

On Wednesday evening, Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration (OVA) head Ivan Fedorov said Russia had carried out targeted strikes on Zaporizhzhia and surrounding areas throughout the day.

Other Topics of Interest

Lavrov Demands Russian Language Rights as Core Condition for Peace

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov announced that the full restoration of rights to Russian-speaking populations in Ukraine remains a non-negotiable condition for any long-term settlement of the war. Speaking on Saturday during a video address marking Russian Language Day, Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s long-standing accusations of systematic language discrimination and “Russophobia” by Kyiv – claims that served as primary justifications for the 2022 full-scale invasion.

“As a result of the attacks, more than 53,000 subscribers - on the right bank of Zaporizhzhia and parts of Zaporizhzhia district - were left without electricity,” he wrote.

In the Sumy region, Russian forces struck a civilian car with a drone as a family was traveling. A man, woman, and their daughter were injured, with the 66-year-old woman sustaining serious wounds. All were hospitalized. In another community, a 42-year-old man was also injured in a drone attack.

Overnight in Sumy, blast waves shattered windows in apartment buildings and damaged cars. Rescuers, volunteers, and municipal workers are carrying out emergency repairs.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, starting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 4, Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and 183 drones - including Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas UAVs, about 110 of them Shaheds.

The attack was repelled by aviation, air defense missile units, electronic warfare teams, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups.

As of 8 a.m., Ukrainian air defenses had downed or suppressed 156 drones.

“Ballistic missile impacts and 22 strike UAV hits were recorded at 16 locations, along with debris from downed drones at seven sites,” the Air Force said.