2023-12-30 14:04:07
The essentials in brief:
- Russia has one massive missile and drone attack carried out on Ukraine and, according to Ukrainian Prime Minister Schmihal, hit “social and critical infrastructure”. Authorities report attacks ato several citiesincluding Kiev, Odessa, Lwiw, Charkiw and Dnipro. According to authorities, at least 30 people have died. To the report / to the comment
- The US has awarded Ukraine additional military aid worth $250 million. This means that the government in Washington has probably exhausted the funds that have already been approved. The release of further funds is currently blocked by Congress.
- Ukraine has attacked the Crimean port city of Feodosiya with a cruise missile and there sunk a large warship. Satellite images confirm the destruction; There are different reports on the number of victims. To the report
- A Russian attack on the train station in Kherson left one dead and at least four injured. This was reported by the Ukrainian Interior Minister and local authorities. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, many civilians were waiting there for an evacuation train at the time of the attack.
Live-Ticker
11:14 a.m.: US institute warns of further major Russian attacks on Ukraine
After the Russian air strikes once morest Ukraine with many deaths, US experts have warned of further violent attacks. “Russia will continue to conduct large-scale attacks once morest Ukraine to weaken Ukrainian morale and Ukraine’s ability to sustain its war effort once morest Russia,” said the daily report from the US Institute for the Study of War on Friday evening.
At the same time, the analysts emphasized that following almost two years of aggressive war, Russia is unlikely to be able to attack regularly on a large scale with missiles given its reserves and production capacities, but more consistently with drones.
10:34 a.m.: Poland protests once morest Russian airspace violation
Because of the violation of Polish airspace by a Russian missile that the Polish military identified, the Foreign Ministry in Warsaw summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian embassy and handed him a note of protest. As the ministry announced, the protest note calls on Russia to “explain the incident of airspace violation and to immediately stop such activities.”
Meanwhile, according to Polish media reports, several hundred soldiers resumed their search on Saturday morning for rocket debris that may have fallen on Polish soil.
6:16 a.m.: Moscow reports the shooting down of 32 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory
The Russian Defense Ministry said Russian air defense intercepted 32 Ukrainian drones over the western Russian regions of Bryansk, Oryol and Kursk near the Ukrainian border and over the Moscow region on Saturday night.
5:24 a.m.: There is another air alert in large parts of Ukraine
The sirens are wailing once more in large parts of Ukraine. There is an air alert in the southern areas to the west. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian combat drones flew over the country with multiple changes of direction.
5:17 a.m.: Russia reports attacks in the Russian border area
According to the governor of the Bryansk region of Russia on the border with Ukraine, five incoming Ukrainian drones were shot down during the night. The Defense Ministry in Moscow said 13 projectiles from Ukrainian multiple rocket launchers had also been repelled. According to authorities in the Russian city of Belgorod, a man has died in a shelling. Four people were injured.
A damaged house in a settlement in the Belgorod region.
Belgorod Region Governor Vyaches / Archyde.com
1:49 a.m.: Russia blames Ukraine for the victims of massive air strikes on Ukrainian cities
Russian UN Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya blames Ukraine for the victims of massive Russian air strikes. At an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council in New York requested by Ukraine, Nebenzya said that the real problem was that Ukraine had placed its air defense systems in residential areas. “If the Ukrainian air defense systems had not been deployed, there would have been no casualties among the civilian population at all,” he said.
11:59 p.m.: Daily summary from Friday (December 29th)
Massive air strikes on Ukraine: Russia has hit Ukraine with the most violent air strikes since the war of aggression began. Within hours, Russia fired a good 160 cruise missiles, rockets and drones at many cities across the country. Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valery Zalushni said the attacks targeted important infrastructure, factories and military facilities. Civilian buildings such as hospitals were also hit. The city of Dnipro was hit particularly hard. There, a shopping center and a maternity hospital caught fire. At least 30 people were killed and around 160 were injured. To the report / to the comment
Russian missile violates NATO airspace: According to Polish information, a Russian missile stayed in Polish airspace for around three minutes and flew over 40 kilometers. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that the defense alliance stands by its member Poland and remains vigilant.
Zelensky visits enclosed front-line city: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the heavily contested front-line town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, which is half surrounded by Russian troops. Zelensky awarded several soldiers with medals and conveyed his congratulations on Christmas and the New Year.
London supplies anti-aircraft missiles: Great Britain promises Ukraine more weapons. Hundreds of anti-aircraft missiles will be delivered to support Ukraine’s defense capabilities, wrote British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. According to his department, there are 200 rockets.
10:25 p.m.: More battles with Russian ground troops in the east and south of Ukraine
In addition to the heavy bombardment from the air, Russia also attacked Ukraine with ground troops, according to information from Kiev. The focus was once once more on Avdiivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine and the Ukrainian bridgehead on the southern bank of the Dnipro River in the Kherson region in the south. The Ukrainian military’s statements might not be independently verified.
7:34 p.m.: Biden is demanding new Kiev aid from Congress
In light of the unprecedented Russian air strikes once morest Ukraine, US President Joe Biden has once once more urged Congress to approve further funding for Kiev. “Overnight, Russia launched its largest airstrike on Ukraine since the beginning of this war,” Biden said in a written statement. “There is far more at stake in this fight than just Ukraine,” he warned. “It affects the entire NATO alliance, the security of Europe and the future of transatlantic relations.”
With its military assistance, the USA had helped to save many lives, he emphasized. “But unless Congress acts urgently in the new year, we will be unable to continue delivering the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must act, and without further delay.”
5:47 p.m.: Great Britain delivers 200 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine
Britain is sending around 200 anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine to protect civilians and infrastructure from Russian drones and bombing attacks. This was announced by the British Ministry of Defense.
«Russian President Vladimir Putin is testing Ukraine’s defenses and the West’s resolve, hoping he can take victory from defeat. But he’s wrong,” said British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps. “Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble its efforts to give Ukraine what it needs to win.”
5:35 p.m.: Zelenskiy visits the enclosed front-line town of Avdiivka
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the front-line town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region, which was half surrounded by Russian troops. “Avdiivka – our positions and our boys,” said Zelenskiy in a video message. The head of state stood at the entrance to the industrial city decorated with Ukrainian flags. He was accompanied by his office manager Andri Jermak. Zelensky awarded several soldiers with medals and conveyed his congratulations on Christmas and the New Year.
4.30 p.m.: Russian missile presumably in Polish airspace – NATO “alert” according to Stoltenberg
After a Russian missile allegedly entered Polish airspace, NATO is closely monitoring the situation in Poland. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote this on X. “I spoke to Polish President Andrzej Duda regarding the rocket incident in Poland. NATO stands in solidarity with our valued ally, is monitoring the situation and we will remain in touch as the facts become clear. NATO remains vigilant,” said Stoltenberg.
Spoke with President @AndrzejDuda regarding the missile incident in #Poland. #NATO stands in solidarity with our valued Ally, is monitoring the situation & we will remain in contact as the facts are established. NATO remains vigilant.
— Jens Stoltenberg (@jensstoltenberg) December 29, 2023
4:13 p.m.: UN human rights commissioner shocked by Russian attacks
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has strongly condemned the recent Russian air strikes on Ukrainian cities. Türk said in Geneva that he was shocked, especially since the attacks also targeted civilian targets such as hospitals, schools and kindergartens. “International humanitarian law expressly prohibits attacks on civilian objects and indiscriminate attacks under all circumstances.” He once once more called on Moscow to strictly adhere to all rules of international law in combat.
EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell also condemned Russia’s recent “barbaric” air strikes. It was “another cowardly and indiscriminate attack on schools, a metro station and a hospital,” wrote Borrell on X. He spoke to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba. “Ukraine’s fight for freedom once morest tyranny is a common fight.”
3:15 p.m.: Casualty numbers rise following massive Russian air strikes
In Russia-bombed Ukraine, more than 20 people have been killed and more than 130 others injured in unprecedented airstrikes across the country just before the New Year. The Ukrainian leadership spoke of massive “terror” once morest the civilian population. As of Friday followingnoon, 26 deaths were known and 137 people were injured, as the regional Ukrainian authorities announced. There were deaths in Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhia, Odessa, Lviv and the capital Kiev. To the report
A destroyed shopping center in Dnipro.
State Emergency Service Of Ukraine / Archyde.com
10:30 a.m.: After a Russian air strike: at least 12 dead and 75 injured
According to official information from Kiev, at least 12 people were killed in Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine. 75 people were injured. In the city of Dnipro alone, there were 5 civilian deaths and more than 20 injured, according to the local military administration.
Russia attacked large parts of the country during the night and morning. President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke of 110 Russian missiles being fired – more than ever before in one day.
Firefighters at a warehouse that was heavily damaged in Russia’s missile attack on Ukraine.
Valentyn Ogirenko / Archyde.com
9.32 a.m.: Russia carries out the heaviest air strikes in a long time on Ukraine
According to Ukrainian sources, Russia carried out its heaviest airstrikes in months on Friday. “We haven’t had so many red enemy targets on our monitors for a long time,” the German Press Agency quoted Air Force spokesman Juri Ihnat as saying. He continued: “Practically everything flew, except Kalibr cruise missiles.” Kinshal 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. Impacts and damage were reported in the cities of Kharkiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Odessa and Kiev.
A rocket explodes in Kiev on December 29th.
Gleb Garanich / Archyde.com
9:01 a.m.: Massive Russian missile attacks hit “critical infrastructure”
According to Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Schmihal, Russia carried out a “massive missile and drone attack” on Ukraine overnight, hitting “social and critical infrastructure”.
Local authorities report deaths and injuries in several cities, including Kiev, Odessa, Kharkiv, Dnipro and Lviv. Russia has not yet commented on the attacks.
A Large-Scale Ballistic and Cruise Missile Attack by the Russian Armed Forces has occurred this morning once morest several Cities across Ukraine, including Odesa where a High-Rise Residential Building was Struck, Dnipro where a Shopping Complex was Struck, and even the Capital of… pic.twitter.com/iDtgm3qjpg
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 29, 2023
5.40 a.m.: Fence on the Latvian border with Belarus shortly before completion
According to the Latvian border guard, the fence on Latvia’s border with neighboring Belarus will soon be completed. “We hope that we can complete the entire fence on the land border with Belarus by the end of this year,” said border guard officer Vladimirs Sersts. Shortly before Christmas, almost all work on setting up the physical barrier was completed. The construction of further infrastructure will then begin: new paths along the fence, surveillance cameras and sensors.
Latvia has a border of around 172 kilometers with Russia’s close ally Belarus, which is part of the EU’s external border. The situation there is tense because migrants from crisis areas want to get to the Baltic state, which is tolerated or even specifically promoted by the Belarusian authorities in order to create an instrument of political pressure.
Latvian border guards patrol along the fence on the Latvia-Belarus border on August 8, 2023.
Ints Kalnins / Archyde.com
5.20 a.m.: Russia is expanding arms production
The head of the Kremlin, Vladimir Putin, was informed by Sergei Chemezov, head of the Rostech company, regarding a “massive expansion” of arms production. The production of ammunition for firearms has increased fifty-fold and the production of tanks has increased seven-fold, said Chemezov. He did not give any specific numbers. After complaints from Russian military officials regarding a lack of ammunition, Putin ramped up the war economy across the country.
4.55 a.m.: Rockets on Kharkiv, drones over Lviv
The Ukrainian city of Kharkiv was attacked by Russian missiles early this morning, mayor Ihor Terehow announced. Six impacts were recorded. At the same time, anti-aircraft defenses were activated in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv because it was attacked by Russian drones, the region’s governor, Maksim Kozitski, wrote on the messaging app Telegram.
1:53 a.m.: Reports of a high-rise building fire in Odessa following an alleged drone attack
A fire broke out in a multi-story building in Odessa. Shortly before, drones had been spotted heading into the area, according to local authorities. “A high-rise building in Odessa was damaged by a downed drone,” announced Oleh Kiper, the region’s governor. He said information regarding possible victims was still being verified and urged city residents to stay in shelters while the drone strike was underway. Local Telegram channels posted photos and videos of a fire that appeared to affect the top two floors of a building.
With agency material.
1703945815
#War #Ukraine #latest #developments
