Russian strikes on Ukraine for fifth straight day leave some supermarket shelves bare

Employees remove debris in a front of a sorting terminal of Nova Post company hit by a Russian drone strike, on the outskirts of Odesa, Ukraine, Monday. Nina Liashonok/Reuters

Russian forces relentlessly battered Kyiv and cities in the region around the Ukrainian capital for a fifth straight day Monday, leaving some supermarket shelves bare after repeated strikes on warehouses as Ukraine reels from attacks with jet-powered drones.

Russia has intensified its aerial attacks in recent months, more than four years after it invaded its neighbour. Almost constant air raid alerts in the Kyiv region in recent days have severely disrupted daily routines. Two major attacks in July killed almost 50 civilians, and a strike on Saturday killed at least 38 people.

Classes were due to resume at Ukrainian schools on Tuesday, but it was unclear whether parents would send their children. Schools have air raid shelters, and classes can also be held online.

“Right now, Russia’s tactic is to wear down Ukraine and Ukrainians – first and foremost, our people,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media late Sunday.

Ukraine has also tried to make Russian civilians feel the burden of war by hammering major online retailers and oil facilities. The attacks have brought shortages for ordinary Russians, though its strikes have not been as deadly for civilians.

A pall of black smoke drifted over Kyiv on Monday morning. In Brovary and Boryspil, cities in the Kyiv region, the aerial attacks struck several warehouses and four people were wounded, said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the regional military administration.

Zelensky conceded on social media that Ukraine is struggling to counter fast-flying jet-propelled drones that Russia is increasingly deploying.

Between Thursday and Sunday, Russia fired almost 1,500 drones at Ukraine, and around 800 of them were jet-powered, Zelensky said.

People wait for the end of the air raid alert and resumption of metro train service during a Russian drone attack, at an overcrowded metro station in Kyiv, Monday. Anna Voitenko/Reuters

Combat aircraft are currently trying to stop the jet-powered versions while Ukraine looks to develop more effective technology.

“Four companies have developed the relevant interceptor drones, and one company has the most successful technology,” Zelensky said. He didn’t elaborate.

Repeated Russian strikes on food distribution centres and retail hubs have disrupted Ukrainian logistics, leaving some supermarket shelves bare and fuelling public concern about shortages.

Those fears prompted Zelensky adviser Serhii Beskrestnov to say on social media Monday that Ukraine will not go hungry.

He urged the public not to give in to rumours, disinformation or panic, saying producers and retailers are currently restructuring supply chains.

He added that European countries would be ready to fill any food supply shortfall, if necessary.

At the same time, Russia has kept up its attacks on Ukraine’s power grid, seeking to leave civilians cold and without running water in the approaching winter.

Russian forces launched what officials said was a massive overnight drone attack on Ukraine’s northern Chernihiv region, which borders Russia, where an energy facility was damaged, according to Viacheslav Chaus, head of the regional military administration. He did not provide details of the damage.

The Russian Defence Ministry said Sunday it is preparing “massive strikes” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.

Russia overnight shot down 239 Ukrainian drones over 14 Russian regions, occupied Crimea and the waters of the Black Sea, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said Monday.

A Ukrainian missile attack Sunday evening on the Russian border city of Belgorod killed three people, acting regional Gov. Alexander Shuvayev said.