The “bang” of New Year’son time, arrived shortly after midnight. Twenty minutes had passed since the New Year’s strike when some strong explosions have shaken the center Kyiv. The first attack of 2023 will certainly not be the last. This time i Russian drones They advanced a few seconds alarm sirens: first the punches, sharp, that made the window Many apartments in the station district immediately followed the call to the population to seek shelter in the area shelters. As 2022 ended, the following year began.
But nobody in the capital expected that it could be a quiet New Year’s Eve. That four waves of attacks of December 31 They had already caused one casualty and several wounded and destroyed one Inn a stone’s throw away Stadion Olympicwhere the Italian national team played in the final of the European Championship 2012, and caused massive damage to several buildings. Many spent the central hours on the afternoon of the 31st in the makeshift dwellings of the undergroundwho has for an hour race stopped and guaranteed hospitality to the citizens. And so the slightest desire to celebrate the New Year quickly faded and made way for that againfearfor the fearIn the fear another escalation.
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Already at 8 o’clock in the evening on the streets of Kyiv there was no longer a living soul: Someone in a hurry to reach friends and relatives, hiding with a bottle of sparkling wine, but most of the residents preferred it lock yourself up at home. Also because the authorities have complied curfew (from 11.00 p.m.), without exception for the New Year, and the subway has already reduced its trips from 9.30 p.m. These few restaurants those that stayed open closed their doors at 8 p.m. no dinner, of course few customers, tight business. The economy is going down and that’s another reflex Of the war.
Even the car trafficsince then it has completely reset itself, and with that i Sounds a capital that mattered before the war 3 million inhabitants and this last night seemed utterly deserted, spectraldistant relative of one of the cities more vitalyoung, energetic from Eastern Europe. AND dark: Energy rationing has shut down almost everyone street lights and to shoot in the evening, not only in Kyiv, but also in Lvivis recommended torch. Frequent potholes can be a dangerous trap.
Some player improvisedShe tried to give a little liveliness around until the very end train stationwith a guitar and a few bystanders listening to him. A few homeless people, more helpless victims of this conflict that has taken every possibility subsidy and helping those most in need, bivouacking around the trains, further evidence of a growing unease across the country. That GDPin 2022, had a decrease of 35% and the costs are to be borne as always the poorest.
???? This picture shows the wreckage of one of the damaged #KamikazeDrones who attacked the capital last night. The drone had an inscription “#Happy New Year‘ written on the body.
The pictures were published by Andriy Nebytov, the police chief of the Kyiv region. pic.twitter.com/4dMCvNYLH8— KievPost (@KievPost) January 1, 2023
Of Saddest New Year of Ukrainian history remains the war report: 45 drones of Iranian origin, launched by the Russians, 13 in the last hours of the old year and 32 in 2023. A good part of it, if not all – according to the morning report from Kyiv – shot down from anti-aircraft. On one of them, the Kyiv Post reports, the inscription “Good Year“. Macabre irony of a conflict that no longer has anything human about it. And the message stays Zelensky To the country. Clear and direct, in line with the communication chosen since February 24: “2022 has hurt our hearts. We all cried tears. 311 days. We don’t know exactly what the new year will bring. I would like to wish us all one thing: the victory. And that is the main thing. Best wishes to all Ukrainians. May this year be the year of the comeback. The return of our people. The warriors to their families. The prisoners to their homes. IDPs in their Ukraine. return of our lands. And he who is employed temporarily shall be free forever.” There Warin summary, it won’t end anytime soon. And neither did the attacks on the capital.
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