Inside Kyiv's Cabinet strike: Why experts question NYT claim of breached defense zone
Photo: Russians attacked the Cabinet of Ministers (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The attack on Kyiv last night marked the first time Russia breached one of the city's most heavily protected government districts. RBC-Ukraine reports in detail on the "breach of the most powerful air defense zone" in Kyiv.
Following the nighttime attack, The New York Times noted that the Cabinet of Ministers building is located near the parliament and the President's office, placing the government district at the center of Kyiv's air defense rings. It is considered one of the most secure areas in Ukraine.
The NYT concluded that this morning's Russian strike was likely the first breach of this well-protected area. This development is particularly concerning amid the stagnation of diplomatic efforts to resolve the war.
At the same time, military expert Vladyslav Seleznov is cautious about agreeing with the NYT's assessment.
"Kyiv indeed hosts a large number of air defense systems. But even such a dense network cannot be 100% effective," he explained.
According to him, even Israel's air defense system, one of the most powerful in the world, does not always intercept missiles that are not the most advanced.
"There is no perfect weapon. This time, Russia succeeded through the mass use of drones, and the problem is that they have accumulated a lot of them. I think we need to remain alert because the enemy will periodically continue this missile-drone terror tactic," Seleznov added.
Military expert Oleksandr Musiienko, meanwhile, emphasized that the Cabinet of Ministers should not be singled out as the target of the attack.
"Perhaps someone in the Kremlin imagines in their twisted mind that such strikes will achieve something or send some kind of signal. But I see no signal here," he said.
Seleznov also declined to conclude whether the Russians specifically planned to strike the government district, and he did not rule out Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko's suggestion that the attack could have involved debris from a downed drone headed for another target.
Russia's massive attack on Ukraine
Russia regularly attacks Ukraine using drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, targeting both cities and critical infrastructure.
On the night of September 7, the enemy carried out another large-scale attack, launching more than 800 aerial assault devices and setting a new record for the number of drones used, most of which were Shaheds.
In the capital, drones hit residential high-rises in the Sviatoshynskyi and Darnytskyi districts and, for the first time, targeted the government building in the city center.
Preliminary reports indicate at least 20 people were injured in Kyiv. Two victims, a mother and her three-month-old son, were killed. Medics also performed an emergency childbirth on a 24-year-old woman who was injured during the strike.
Explosions were also reported that night in Odesa, Kryvyi Rih, and Kremenchuk. For more details on the aftermath, read RBC-Ukraine's report.
