12/29/2023 9:57 am (act. 12/29/2023 10:00 am)
The war leaves a trail of destruction in Ukraine ©APA/AFP/File
According to authorities, there were deaths and injuries in massive Russian airstrikes in Ukraine on Friday. Deaths were reported in eastern Dnipro, northeast Kharkiv, western Lviv and southern Odessa. The chief of staff of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, has once again asked Ukraine's Western allies for more military aid.
Four people were killed and more than a dozen injured in Dnipro, local authorities said. According to the region's governor, a maternity hospital and a shopping mall were hit. The Health Ministry said an unspecified medical facility in the city was significantly damaged. However, all patients and staff managed to arrive safely.
Two people were killed in the Black Sea port city of Odessa, the local regional governor said. At least 15 other people were injured, including two children. Rockets hit residential buildings. Local media, citing the Ministry of Health, reported the bombing of a school building. According to Mayor Hennadij Trukhanov, a building caught fire in “another enemy attack.” He was hit by debris from a downed drone.
One death was reported in the city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine. There were also eight injuries there. Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on television that 22 airstrikes had been carried out in the city. A hospital, several residential buildings and industrial facilities were hit.
According to authorities, a residential building was hit by a rocket in Lviv. One person died and three others were injured, as announced by the region's governor, Maksym Kosyzkyj, on the short message service Telegram. So far, Lviv has been the target of Russian attacks comparatively rarely in the Ukraine war.
Seven injuries were also reported in the capital Kiev. Mayor Vitaly Klitschko said on Telegram that a metro station used as an air raid shelter was damaged. According to city hall, a residential building caught fire due to falling debris. A warehouse is also on fire. Klitschko further explained that the air defense in Kiev was in full operation.
Night attacks were also reported in the cities of Sumy and Konotop. The Ukrainian Air Force spoke of a massive airstrike using a variety of weapons. In addition to drones, Russia has also used cruise missiles, as well as hypersonic and ballistic missiles, a spokesman said on television. X-22 rockets are also used, which are extremely difficult to intercept.
According to the Kiev government, there were power cuts in four Ukrainian regions following the massive Russian airstrikes. The Ministry of Energy announced that the north and south of the country would be affected. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal accused Russia of targeting not only energy but also social infrastructure. According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, 110 rockets were recorded in Friday's wave of attacks and most were intercepted.
On Thursday, three people were killed and nine others were injured in Russian attacks on several targets in the Zaporizhia region of southern Ukraine, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Yermak again asked the Western allies for more military aid. “We are doing everything we can to strengthen our anti-aircraft shield. But the world must realize that we need more support and strength to stop this terror,” Jermak wrote on Telegram. On Wednesday, the US released its last military aid to Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia in February 2022, worth 250 million dollars (a good 226 million euros). A deal on new aid to Ukraine starting next year recently collapsed due to resistance from opposition Republicans in the US Congress.
There was initially no comment from Russia on the latest wave of attacks. However, Moscow said it had thwarted an “attempted” Ukrainian drone attack. The target was the Kursk region in western Russia.
Kharkiv Mayor Terekhov spoke of a “massive attack” in three waves. Police in the Kharkiv region said the city was attacked early in the morning with S-300 rockets and that ten explosions were heard in the city. The Kharkiv regional military administration said Russia carried out around 10 attacks on the city. Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi said there were two attacks.