KYIV: Ukraine has announced the thwarting of a “record” number of Russian drones on New Year’s Eve, following a week of escalating tensions in the nearly two-year conflict with Russia. The Ukrainian authorities also reported casualties, with Russian shelling killed several persons in the southern Odesa region and Kherson on New Year’s Day.
The intensified conflict comes on the heels of Russia’s heavy bombardment of Ukraine in the final days of 2023, resulting in the death of 39 people in one of the largest strikes witnessed in the ongoing war. Ukraine’s air force disclosed that Russia deployed 90 drones on the last night of the year.
“On New Year’s Eve, the defenders of the sky managed to destroy a record number of enemy attack drones – 87 out of 90,” declared Ukraine’s air force.
Russia Launches Missiles on Ukraine
Meanwhile, Moscow launched missiles in various regions, including the northeastern Kharkiv region, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia in the south. The city of Odesa also faced shelling on New Year’s Eve, resulting in casualties, with emergency services reporting one person killed. Additionally, a woman was killed in Kherson due to shelling.
The drone attacks were not limited to the eastern regions, as Lviv near the Polish border experienced targeting. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovy reported damage to a university associated with a Ukrainian nationalist figure and a museum.
Meanwhile, Russia reported Ukrainian drone attacks on its Belgorod region near the border that killed 24 people on Saturday.
