The Ukrainian army revealed that Russia launched an airstrike on Kyiv in the early hours of Tuesday, just hours before the NATO summit in Lithuania aimed at addressing Russian security threats. Kyiv's military administration chief, Serhiy Popko, stated via Telegram, "The enemy attacked Kyiv from the air for the second time this month."
He added, "Initial information indicates that Ukrainian air defense systems shot down all Iranian Shahed drones fired by Russia before they reached their targets. There is no information yet on any casualties or material damage."
The Ukrainian Air Force noted that air raid sirens rang out over Kyiv for an hour, and for over an hour in other eastern parts of Ukraine. Witnesses from Reuters in Kyiv reported hearing explosions resembling the sounds of air defense systems intercepting targets during the airstrike.
The Vilnius summit, which starts today, will be dominated by the ramifications of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as leaders are expected to approve the first comprehensive defense plans for NATO since the Cold War in response to any Russian attack. Russia scolded NATO and its main power, the United States, for their support of Ukraine, warning that Kyiv's potential membership in the alliance would be met with a "clear and firm" response.
