A white arrow darts across the blue sky like a lawn mower and falls at an angle on its target in the Ukrainian capital as police officers, crouched by their patrol car, open fire.

When the Kamikaze drone explodes on a traffic-free street, a thick plume of brown smoke rises high into the air, watched by a handful of bystanders, who timidly move along sidewalks or hug buildings.

The unmanned aerial vehicle strikes, which officials said killed at least four people in Kyiv early Monday, are prompting cries of alarm and sending many residents to emergency shelters.

Cops try to keep a cool head.

“We’ve been here for half an hour and four drones fell,” says officer Yaraslov, still nervous after firing his Kalashnikov.

“It’s a bit scary, but it’s our job. What can we do? It’s normal because it’s our job. We have to do it,” he adds.

It is 08:13 (0513 GMT) in the center of the Ukrainian capital. This is the second attack on the Shevchenkivsky residential area and at least the fourth attack since 06:30.

The drone strikes are the second Russian attack on Kyiv since rockets slammed into the city exactly a week ago as people prepared for their new work week.

Yaroslav and his fellow officer block traffic at the intersection. Their squad car is about 100 meters (yards) from where the first drone struck.

AFP journalists could not identify the targets.

The mayor’s office said a residential building was partially destroyed and at least four people were killed.

A few local residents try to get a glimpse of the first target as brown smoke still billows upwards.

Suddenly there is screaming and panic grips the residents. Heads turn skyward as a number of people seek shelter.

Distant at first, the sound of a drone becomes clearer as the unmanned aircraft flies overhead.

Easily visible, even if it is dozens of meters high, the white, dart-like vehicle flies over buildings.

Like other police officers and soldiers in the neighborhood, Yaroslav grabs his Kalashnikov, kneels on the asphalt and starts shooting at the object.

The crackle of automatic weapons echoes around the area with long and short bursts.

There is no sign that officers hit the drone, which is slanting toward its target 200 meters away. The explosion echoes through the streets.

Less than 10 minutes later, at around 8.20 a.m., the scene is repeated at the same point – the third hit in a row.

The target is only a short distance away from the previously hit building.

AFP journalists hear no air raid sirens ahead of last two strikes. Some AFP journalists see a fireball when a drone hits.

About 200 meters from the blast, a group of elderly people – two women and a man – are hiding next to a policeman against the low wall of a building.

They want to find a safer place.

“Let’s go to the metro station. There’s an air raid shelter there,” says one of the women to the others.

“When the cannons rattle, they (the drones) fly somewhere. can we go now We want to go to the park,” the woman asks the officer, who gives them the all-clear.

Sasha, a 22-year-old who lives in an apartment near the drone strike, said he was woken up by the first blast around 6:30 a.m.

“I’m afraid,” he says laconically, standing next to the entrance to a building that serves as an emergency shelter.

Lessya, a woman in her 60s who lives in a building at the blocked-off intersection, trusts the Ukrainian security forces.

“We believe in our forces and we believe in our victory and we are not intimidated by these explosions,” she says.

“You don’t scare us. We’re used to it and we still believe that whatever happens, we’re going to win. Yes, it’s scary… but they will never intimidate us.”