KYIV, Sept 7 (Reuters) – Ukraine’s air force reported that on Saturday, Russia conducted a mass overnight strike using 67 long-range Shahed drones, successfully intercepting 58 of them.

The air force communicated via a statement on the Telegram app, detailing that air defense teams were deployed across 11 regions of Ukraine to counter the attack.

Debris from the drones was found near the parliament building in the capital, Kyiv. The legislature shared this information in a separate statement on its official Telegram account alongside several images.

It is uncommon for Russian missiles or drones to penetrate so deep into central Kyiv, as the city is shielded by a combination of Soviet-era and Western-supplied air defense systems.

The government area on the hill in the city’s center is one of the most fortified locations in Ukraine, also housing the president’s office, the cabinet, and the central bank.

The images shared on Telegram displayed at least four pieces of debris scattered around the parliament building. One fragment was located at the bottom of the steps to the main entrance, while another piece appeared to be heavily damaged by shrapnel.

Reuters journalists working in Kyiv reported hearing multiple explosions shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, with some echoing loudly throughout the city center, which disturbed the sleep of many residents.

Since commencing its invasion in February 2022, Russia has attacked Ukraine with thousands of missiles and Shahed drones.

The Iranian-made Shahed drone has been utilized by Russia since September 2022 as a cost-effective, disposable option compared to missiles, which are pricier and more challenging to produce.

This propeller-driven drone operates at speeds below 200 km/h (125 mph), making it difficult for standard air defense systems to detect due to its low flying altitude and lower thermal emissions compared to missiles.

Kyiv’s air force stated that the drones were launched from two regions in Russia as well as from the Russian-occupied Crimean Peninsula.

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise)