Bahrain FM Zayani takes shelter during Ukraine visit amid Russia's bombing

Bahrain’s top diplomat Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani made a three-day visit to Kyiv this week and experienced first-hand shelter life in the Ukrainian capital due to Russia's bombing. 

A senior diplomatic source told Al-Monitor that Zayani “experienced the shelter life” in Kyiv on Wednesday and Thursday nights, referring to the bomb shelters used by Ukraine to shield people from Russian aerial attacks.

"The visit occurred despite the escalatory environment [between Russia and Ukraine]. The foreign minister experienced the shelter life both nights he was there," the senior diplomat said. 

Ukraine’s military said that Russia launched an aerial assault on the capital via drones Thursday night, the fourth assault in four days, Reuters reported. Moscow said its assault was in response to an alleged drone attack on the Kremlin on Wednesday. Russia blamed Ukraine for the Kremlin attack, but Ukraine denied the allegation while many observers cast doubt on the Russian narrative.