Kyiv under barrage of drone attacks for second night running

Ukraine has come under fire from drone and missile strikes for the second night in a row, with most targeting the country’s capital.

But Ukrainian forces say they were able to shoot down more than 40 missiles and drones over Kyiv last night.

While there were no casualties reported in the capital, falling drone debris did damage buildings and cause fires.

Explosions were also reported in the Lviv, Odesa, Vinnytsya and Khmelnytskyi regions, the BBC reports.

Sunday night’s attacks mark the second overnight strikes in a row of similar intensity, and Russia’s 15th air assault on Kyiv this month alone.

Oleksandr Scherba, the ambassador-at-large at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the last few days had been very difficult for Kyiv residents, and that drone attacks and sleepless nights had become ‘part of our routine’.

He added: ‘Almost every night, the skies look and sound like another Star Wars episode, but we don’t feel much of Russian rockets hitting their targets here within the city area.

‘And this is all thanks to the decent countries, decent people of the world who gave us this air defence.’

A number of buildings were damaged (Picture: via Reuters)

This striking shot caught the moment a missile was shot down over Kyiv (Picture: Sergei SUPINSKY/AFP)

Firefighters were called to multiple fires (Picture: via Reuters)

Saturday’s overnight attacks came as residents of Ukraine’s capital came together to celebrate Kyiv Day, the anniversary of the city’s founding.

People went to parks, bars and restaurants to celebrate the holiday despite the threat of Russian strikes.

It’s believed Russia has stepped up its attacks on Kyiv recently to try and overwhelm the capital’s defences.

Moscow is using kamikaze drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles.

Analysts believe they’re trying to deplete Ukrainian air defences before it begins its much-anticipated counter-offensive.

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‘Almost every night, the skies look and sound like another Star Wars episode, but we don’t feel much of Russian rockets hitting their targets here within the city area.’