Ninety drones attacked Ukrainian cities only hours into the new year, making for the largest drone attack since the start of the war.
Ukrainian officials also say that Russia launched nearly 100 missiles, including several hypersonic Kinzhals. They credit Western-supplied air defenses with intercepting the majority of those projectiles, but officials report five civilian deaths. The damage also left a quarter-million residents without power in Kyiv.
Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed on New Year’s Day to intensify strikes in Ukraine. “Not a single crime against our civilian population will go unpunished,” Putin said.
He blames Ukraine for a Saturday attack on the city of Belgorod that killed 25 and wounded more than a hundred others.
But the Russian president denies his nation retaliated against Ukrainian civilians. Putin stated Russia only targeted military infrastructure.
Ukraine energy officials reported earlier today that power has been fully restored in the capital city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked those who provided defense systems that shot down 70 of the missiles.