Russia launches unprecedented drone attack over Ukraine on new year's day
Russia launched a record 90 Shahed-type drones over Ukraine during the early hours of the new year, the Ukrainian air force said Monday.
The drone attack resulted in the death of a 15-year-old boy and seven others were wounded after falling debris from one of 87 downed drones hit a residential building in the city of Odesa. Debris also sparked a number of small fires, including at the city’s port.
In Lviv, Russian attacks severely damaged a museum dedicated to Roman Shukhevych, a controversial Ukrainian nationalist and military commander who fought for Ukrainian independence during World War II. University buildings in the town of Dubliany were also damaged, although no casualties were reported.
Writing on social media, Lviv mayor Andriy Sadovyi described the strike as “symbolic and cynical,” adding, “this is a war for our history."
Meanwhile, Ukraine shelled Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, killing four people and wounding 13 more, according to the area’s Russian-installed leader, Denis Pushilin. Russian state media reported that a journalist was among the victims, but provided no further details.
One person was also killed and another wounded in shelling on the Russian border town of Shebekino, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.
The aerial strikes follow a series of heavy aerial bombardments that began on Friday, when Russia unleashed an 18-hour attack that one air force official described as the biggest aerial barrage of the war.
At least 49 people were killed in the bombardment, with rescuers in Kyiv reporting Monday that they had recovered at least eight more bodies from underneath the rubble.
Shelling blamed on Ukraine in the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod Saturday killed 21 people, including three children, local officials reported.
Shelling blamed on Ukraine in the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod on Saturday resulted in 21 casualties, including three children, according to local officials. (ILKHA)