KYIV, Ukraine — Russia attacked the Ukrainian capital with exploding drones early on Monday, officials said, in a follow-up strike to a major volley of missiles and drones fired over the New Year’s holiday.
An air-raid alert sounded in Kyiv shortly before midnight, and explosions were heard about an hour later. At least two explosions echoed through central Kyiv, and reports that drones were in flight came from the military governor of the Kyiv region, Oleksiy Kuleba, and from social media users posting in the city of Kropyvnytskyi, south of Kyiv.
Ukrainians have been on edge for days as air-raid sirens wailed, explosions rang out and debris from shot-down missiles fell on towns and cities.
Russia has been launching Iranian-made Shahed-136 drones, which it began acquiring last summer. The small craft, which can cover hundreds of miles in flight, explode on impact.
In the latest attack, Mr. Kuleba posted on Telegram, air defense forces were firing at Shahed drones in areas near the capital.
“Stay in shelters and safe places,” he wrote.
The military said on Monday that 22 drones were shot down over Kyiv. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, said on Telegram that the attacks had damaged energy infrastructure facilities and affected heating.
Ukraine’s military said it had shot down all 45 exploding drones fired over the weekend. That volley also included cruise missiles, some of which hit targets.
