Ukraine downs drones, Russia retaliates for Belgorod terrorist attack

Ukraine destroys 21 of 49 Iranian-made drones fired by Russia, as deadly attacks and strikes continue. January 1 declared a day of mourning.

Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, reported that it had successfully destroyed 21 out of 49 Iranian-made drones that were launched following Russia's promise to retaliate for what it labeled a "terrorist attack" in a border city that resulted in 24 fatalities.

The Ukrainian air force specifically targeted the "Shahed" drones at the front line of defense and at civilian, military, and infrastructure facilities in the front-line territories. They also reported that six guided missiles had been aimed at the northeastern city of Kharkiv, but they did not specify whether the missiles had hit their targets.

As a result of the attack on Kharkiv, 28 civilians, including two teenagers and a foreign citizen, were wounded. The attack damaged residential buildings, offices, and cafes. Despite the attacks, Kharkiv's mayor, Igor Terekhov, stated that the city remains undeterred.

These Russian strikes followed the deadliest attack on civilians in Russia since the start of the conflict in February 2022. The official death toll has now risen to 24, with 108 wounded in Belgorod, a city just 30 kilometers from the border, which has been repeatedly hit by what Moscow claims is indiscriminate shelling.

Both sides have accused each other of targeting civilian areas in their shared frontier region over the weekend. Russia claimed that the attack in Belgorod involved the use of controversial cluster munitions and accused Kyiv of targeting a sports center, an ice rink, and a university.

Ukraine's allies, however, placed the blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin for invading the neighboring country nearly two years ago. They emphasized that if Russia wants to blame someone for the deaths of Russians in the war, it should start with President Putin.

The Belgorod attack occurred a day after Ukraine reported that a series of Russian missile strikes on several cities, including the capital, had killed 39 people. The attacks included schools, a maternity hospital, shopping arcades, and blocks of flats, marking one of the most violent attacks since the start of the war.

In response to the ongoing conflict, the United Nations condemned the attacks and called for an immediate halt to the violence. Ukraine is urging its Western allies to continue providing military support. The country's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, emphasized the need for global decisions in the coming year and expressed gratitude to the leaders who have been supporting Ukraine since the beginning of the conflict.

In light of the escalating violence, Britain announced that it would send hundreds more air-defense missiles to Kyiv, reaffirming its commitment to stand with Ukraine. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared that they must continue to support Ukraine for as long as necessary.