Ukraine reports the largest Russian offensive in months – with at least 18 dead. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, up to 158 drones and missiles were intercepted.
12/29/2023 | 01:25 minutes
According to Ukrainian information, at least 160 people were injured, and many more were suspected to be under the rubble. Among other things, a maternity clinic, residential buildings and schools were damaged.
Zelensky: More rockets than ever before in one day
For its part, the Ukrainian Air Force said it destroyed 114 of 158 drones and missiles launched by Russia. Air force spokesman Yuri Ihnat said on Ukrainian television:
We haven’t had so many red enemy targets on our monitors for a long time.
One of the targets of the Russian wave of attacks was the city of Dnipro in eastern Ukraine. Reporter Alica Jung is on site and reports on how she experienced the violent attacks.
12/29/2023 | 01:09 minutes
Air Force spokesman: “Practically everything flew”
Spokesman Ihnat emphasized: “Practically everything flew, except Kalibr cruise missiles.” Kinschal hypersonic missiles, S-300 ballistic missiles, various cruise missiles and long-range drones of Iranian design were used. Around 18 strategic bombers were in the air. There had been air alerts across the country.
According to the government in Kiev, there were power outages in four Ukrainian regions. The Ministry of Energy reports that the north and south of the country are affected.
Deaths and damage in many cities
Impacts and damage were reported in the following cities and areas:
- According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko were in the region Dnipropetrovsk Five people were killed in the attacks. Dnipropetrovsk Governor Serhiy Lysak said almost 15 people were injured in the region.
- Two people were therefore in Odessa killed.
- In the northeast Kharkiv At least one fatality was reported. There were also eight injured there. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on television that 22 air strikes had been counted. A hospital, several residential buildings and industrial facilities were hit.
- In the western Ukrainian city Lviv According to authorities, a residential building was hit by a rocket. One person died and three others were injured, as the region’s governor, Maksym Kosyzkyj, announced on the short message service Telegram.
- From the capital Kyiv Two deaths and seven injuries were reported. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced on the short message service Telegram that a subway station used as an air raid shelter had been damaged. According to the city administration, a residential building caught fire due to falling debris. A warehouse is also on fire. Klitschko further explained that the air defense in Kiev was in full operation.
- In Zaporizhia According to official information, one person died.
- Also from Dnipro Impacts and damage were reported.
- According to media reports, there were also explosions Khmelnytskyi.
Women in particular complain that their husbands have few breaks and have to return quickly, even if they are injured, according to ZDF reporter Alica Jung.
12/21/2023 | 05:31 minutes
Energy supply as a target
The UN humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine, Denise Brown, spoke of a “hateful wave of attacks on residential areas of Ukraine”. The attacks are “another unacceptable example of the terrible reality” facing the Ukrainian people, which has made 2023 “another year of enormous suffering,” Brown said on X.
Russian missile temporarily entered Polish airspace
According to the Polish army, a Russian missile flew through Polish airspace on Friday morning and left towards Ukraine. “Everything indicates that a Russian missile has entered Polish airspace,” Polish Chief of General Staff Wieslaw Kukula told reporters. The missile was spotted with the help of radar and immediately left Polish airspace towards Ukraine.
You can find current reports on Russia’s attack on Ukraine at any time in our live blog:
Source: dpa, Reuters, AFP, AP