Russia’s latest attack on Kyiv was exceptionally deadly – here is why | CNN

Kyiv —

A ferocious Russian attack on Kyiv Thursday killed at least 30 people, making it the third deadliest assault against the Ukrainian capital since the start of the war.

Ukraine has endured hundreds of large-scale aerial attacks, but the assault this week was exceptionally lethal, in part because of the targets Moscow chose – residential buildings – and the weapons it used, including ballistic missiles, loitering munitions and jet-powered drones.

Jet-powered drones like the Geran-4 UAV are a relatively new addition to Russia’s arsenal, having been first spotted around the start of the year.

They can fly at speeds of up to 500 kilometers per hour (310 miles per hour), evading Ukraine’s defenses. They are also too fast for Kyiv’s mobile fire groups and can only be shot down with ground-to-air missiles or fighter jets.