As dawn broke on May 29, 2023, Kyiv Day – a day celebrating 1,541 years of this historic city – was interrupted by a startling wake-up call. An unprecedented 59 Iranian-made “kamikaze” drones, launched by Russia, rained down on Ukraine’s capital, marking a grim first in the history of May and the 14th similar assault within the month.

A Swift Response Amid Tragic Loss

The Ukrainian military responded swiftly, grounding 58 of the 59 launched drones. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy confirmed the elimination of all drones threatening the capital. Tragically, however, there were casualties, including a 41-year-old man killed by falling debris, and several injuries were reported by Kyiv’s Mayor Vitali Klitschko.