Key facts
- Russia conducted drone attacks on Kyiv late on August 31.
- Ukraine's air defenses downed multiple Russian drones over the capital.
- Fires were reported in the Darnytskyi, Solomyanskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts of Kyiv.
- A significant explosion was heard in Kyiv's city center.
- Kyiv experienced a prolonged air raid alert lasting nearly three hours.
Russia continued its attacks on Kyiv for another night, with air defenses downing Russian drones late into August 31. The capital faced its fifth consecutive day of drone attacks, while strikes in other regions killed at least seven people and injured 45 over the past day.
As night fell, Ukrainian air defenses engaged multiple Russian drones over Kyiv's city center, with reporters confirming several were downed. Mayor Vitalii Klitschko reported fires throughout the city, including in the Darnytskyi district due to a downed drone, a wooded area in Solomyanskyi district, and drone debris found in Holosiivskyi district.
A loud explosion rocked Kyiv's city center around 10:17 p.m. local time, according to Kyiv Independent Deputy Chief Editor Toma Istomina. The Kyiv City Military Administration cleared the air raid alert at 10:27 p.m., which had begun hours earlier at 7:46 p.m.
In recent days, Kyiv has experienced a record number of air raid alerts as Russia shifts its strategy to near-hourly jet-powered drone attacks, deviating from its usual large-scale barrages of ballistic and cruise missiles. On August 28, the capital recorded 13 alerts, the highest number since Russia's full-scale invasion.