A Russian-appointed official in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, stated that shelling by Ukraine on January 1 resulted in four deaths. Denis Pushilin, the head of the Donetsk region, which Moscow has illegally annexed, wrote on Telegram that thirteen others were injured in the 'heavy shelling' of central Donetsk by Ukrainian forces. On the other hand, Oleg Kiper, the governor of the port city of Odessa, reported on Telegram that one person was killed and nine injured in a Russian drone attack on the city. Kiper noted that the debris from the downed drones caused multiple fires in residential buildings across various parts of the city. A video shared on social media by the mayor of Odessa shows him inspecting a damaged apartment complex with broken windows. Officials in Lviv, a city in Ukraine bordering Poland, reported that a Russian airstrike at the beginning of the New Year damaged a university building in the town of Dublyany and a memorial in the outskirts of Lviv. The Ukrainian Air Force announced that Russian airstrikes also targeted the Mykolaiv and Dnipro regions. Reuters emphasized in its report that it could not independently verify the reports from both sides, which deny targeting civilian areas. However, Russia began its attacks in the lead-up to the New Year with drone strikes on Ukrainian cities starting from Saturday, December 30. The Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported the downing of 10 Iranian-made 'Shahed' drones during attacks on the regions of Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, and Mykolaiv that day. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia targeted the city of Kharkiv with missiles and drones on Sunday, December 31, in the hours leading up to the New Year. According to Reuters, this attack occurred hours after Moscow accused Kyiv of a deadly airstrike across the border. The Ukrainian Air Force stated that it shot down 21 out of 49 drones launched by Russia within a 24-hour period. The military's statement indicated that most of them targeted frontline areas and parts of Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhia. U.S. President Joe Biden, in response to a question about whether he would speak with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky after the recent Russian attacks in Ukraine, said, 'I speak with him regularly.'
Ukraine and Russia Accuse Each Other of Attacks at the Beginning of the New Year
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of launching attacks as the New Year begins, with casualties reported in both Donetsk and Odessa. The ongoing conflict continues to escalate, impacting civilian areas and drawing international attention, including responses from the U.S. government.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
As the New Year began, both Ukraine and Russia accused each other of launching attacks, resulting in casualties in Donetsk and Odessa. The conflict escalated with drone strikes and missile attacks on various Ukrainian cities.
- Four deaths and thirteen injuries reported in Donetsk due to Ukrainian shelling, according to Russian sources.
- One death and nine injuries reported in Odessa from a Russian drone attack.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The conflict between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing since 2014, following Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. The situation has escalated with increased military actions and international involvement.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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