At least 4 people killed in Kyiv 'kamikaze' drone strike

Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Russia attacked Kyiv with "kamikaze" drones early Monday, killing at least four people and causing civilians to flee to shelters as Ukrainian officials renewed calls on ally nations for more advanced air defense systems.

"Four people have already died under the rubble of a house in the Shevchenkiv district of the capital, which was hit by a Russian terrorist drone. The rescuers discovered and retrieved another body -- that of a dead man," Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said on Telegram.

"Search and rescue operations are ongoing. There may still be people under the rubble."

Klitschko added that three victims were hospitalized, two of whom are employees of the State Emergency Service.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the target of Monday's attacks were civilian and energy facilities as well as apartments.

"The world's response to these crimes must be clear: more support for Ukraine and more sanctions against the aggressor," he tweeted.

Anton Gerashchenko, an adviser to the minister of internal affairs in Ukraine, said on Twitter that among the victims were a young couple who were expecting their first child soon.

"Bohdan and Victoria, 34, were both found dead," Gerashchenko said. "So much pain because of TerroRussia. WE NEED AIR DEFENSE SYSTEMS."

By 2 p.m. Monday, at least 19 people were reported injured in attacks on a Kyiv residential building, Serhii Kruk, head of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, said in a statement.

In a video he posted to Telegram, one of the drones could be seen with the phrase "for Belgorod" written on it. Explosions were recorded Sunday in the Russian region of Belgorod, across the border from the Ukrainian province of Kharkiv.

Klitschko said earlier Monday that the Shevchenkiv district was under attack, reporting at least five strikes had hit the busy city center home to universities, bars and restaurants.

"In the morning, 28 drones flew in the direction of Kyiv. Thanks to our Armed Forces, air defense, most of the flying terrorists were shot down," Klichko said.

At least two people were trapped under rubble early Monday after a residential building had been struck in the attack, he said, adding that 18 others had been rescued from the debris.

The body of a woman was later recovered from the debris while one more person is believed to be under the rubble.

Firefighters were also working to extinguish a blaze that had erupted in a non-residential building that was hit by one of the drone strikes with medics on the scene and officials were working to clarify the number of victims.

"Stay in shelters!" he urged.

Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, described the weapons used as "kamikaze drones," while calling Russia's attack on the civilian populated city a move of "desperation."

"We need more air defense systems as soon as possible," he said, via Telegram. "We have no time for slow actions. More weapons to defend the sky and destroy the enemy."

Zelensky said Russia had attacked Ukraine throughout Sunday night and into Monday morning, but that it would not break their resolve.

"The enemy can attack our cities, but it would not be able to break us," he said Monday morning. "The occupiers will get only fair punishment and condemnation of future generations. And we will get victory."

The strikes on Monday continue Russia's attack against the capital city with the use of drones. Kremlin forces have been using Iranian-made unmanned aerials to strike targets in Kyiv since last week.

Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelensky, said on Twitter that Iran is "responsible for the murders of Ukrainians" while calling it a country that "oppresses its own people." Iran has been rocked by recent protests after the death of Mahsa Amini.

Podolyak on Monday also called for Russia to be expelled from the G20 forum.

"Those who give orders to attack critical infrastructure to freeze civilians and organize total mobilization to cover the frontline with corpses, cannot sit at the same table with leaders of G20 for sure," he said. "Time to put an end to ru-hypocrisy."

The targeting of the civilian center has prompted Ukrainian officials to increase their demands on the United States and other democratic nations for air defense systems capable of shooting the drones out of the sky.

Late last week during a NATO ministerial meeting, several member states pledged weaponry, including air defense systems, to Ukraine, but officials said some could take weeks to months to even years before they enter the war.

In Washington on Monday, State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters during a press briefing that they believe that Iran's transfer of drones to Russia is a violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution.

He added that there is "extensive proof" that Russia has been using the drones against both military and civilian targets.

"Russia deepening an alliance with Iran is something the whole world should, especially those in the region and across the world, frankly should be seen as a profound threat and something that any country should pay very close attention to," he said.

The attack on Kyiv came as three people were also killed in the northeastern region of Sumy, according to the region's governor, Dmytro Zhyvytskyi.

Zhyvytskyi said that three Russian rockets had targeted civilian structures early Monday morning and that nine were wounded.

"There are still people under the rubble," Zhyvytskyi said.

A Russian Su-34 supersonic bomber crashed into a nine-floor residential tower in the southern Russian town of Yeysk on Monday, with the pilots ejecting before the crash, the territory's governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram.

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry in Krasnodar Krai said in a statement that four people died and 25 people were injured.

Yeysk is located across the Sea of Azov from Ukrainian city of Mariupol.