Ukraine downs over 200 drones as air raid alerts continue for third day

Near-continuous air raid alerts across Ukraine have extended into a third day as Russia continues its wave of attacks. Ukraine's military announced that its air defenses shot down or suppressed 233 Russian drones overnight, targeting various regions including Kyiv. Explosions were reported in the capital, with alerts remaining active into the morning. Russia has significantly increased its targeting of Ukraine's economic infrastructure, with shopping malls, warehouses, and ports frequently coming under fire. The use of faster, jet-powered drones has posed a challenge for Ukraine's air defense systems. Falling debris from downed drones has sparked fires in residential areas, though no casualties were reported in these specific incidents. However, recent attacks on civilian infrastructure have resulted in significant loss of life, including a strike on a shopping mall in Kryvyi Rih that killed 16 people and injured 130 others. Another attack destroyed a shopping and entertainment center in Dnipro, and a strike on a warehouse in Kyiv Oblast killed several people. According to Ukraine's Agricultural Minister, approximately 90% of the country's modern storage facilities for various goods have been destroyed by Russian strikes.