Fires in Kharkiv, the Russians bombed the city three times during Easter services. Kiev army destroyed 23 Shahed drones

Having been at war for three years, Ukraine once again received the news of the Resurrection under the threat of Russian bombs. A few hours before services began in churches across the country, the city of Kharkiv was attacked three times. Ukrainian air defense said it shot down 23 out of 24 Shahed drones launched by the Russians.

UPDATE 11.00 Ukrainian air defense units destroyed 23n of the 24 Shahed drones that Russia launched overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force reported, cited by the Kyiv Independent.

Russian drones have been launched from Russia’s Kursk region as well as occupied Crimea.

All drones launched by Russia were intercepted over Kharkiv, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Mobile firefighting groups of the Ukrainian Air Force were involved in repelling airstrikes.

The original news

Near midnight, sirens sounded in the eastern half of Ukraine, as there was a risk of ballistic missile bombardment from the Russians.

The main Resurrection service took place in Kiev, at Saint Michael’s Cathedral with Golden Domes. It was officiated by Metropolitan Epiphanie, the head of the independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church – the one that broke away from the Russian church.

For security reasons, President Volodymyr Zelensky and his wife did not attend the service. The former president, Petro Poroshenko, was present.

Authorities urged people to watch the religious ceremony at home on television because of the risk of airstrikes.

Around 1 a.m. local time, local authorities announced that several explosions had been reported in the city. Debris from the downing of drones in the city’s Osnovianskyi district reportedly set fire to three houses in the area.

Suspilne Kharkiv later reported that a 60-year-old man was injured in the attack. As a result of the explosions, garages, houses and utility companies were destroyed.

Russia has recently stepped up attacks against Kharkiv, using rockets, cruise bombs and drones to destroy energy infrastructure and kill civilians.

In late March, Russia destroyed all power stations in Kharkiv, leaving Ukraine’s second-largest city without a stable power source.

Publisher: GM

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