More than 120 missiles reported fired into Ukraine; casualties in KyivRussia launched a new wave of missile attacks across Ukraine on Thursday morning, with presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak claiming that more than 120 missiles had been fired.
Air defences in Mykolaiv and Odesa were reportedly successful in downing some of the barrage. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, stated that three people were known to be injured in the country’s capital, including a 14-year-old girl. Two people had been rescued from a private house that had been struck by debris.
There were widespread reports of power outages as residents in cities across Ukraine were warned to stay in air raid shelters, charge their devices and stock up on water where possible. The city of Lviv was reported to be 90% without electricity as a result of the attacks. There were also explosions reported in Kharkiv. There were unconfirmed reports of drones being launched at Kyiv from the direction of Belarus.
The attack was criticised by the British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, who said Russia’s actions showed “Russia does not want peace with Ukraine, Russia wants the subjugation of Ukraine”.
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Maksym Kozytskyi, the governor of Ukraine’s western region of Lviv has issued the following operational update on Telegram following this morning’s missile strikes. He informs residents:
Today we have another massive Russian missile attack on the territory of our state. Air defence forces destroyed 70% of the missiles flying over Lviv region. The rockets damaged the energy infrastructure facility. There is currently no information about victims.
In the Lviv region, emergency power cuts were applied due to damage to the energy infrastructure. As of 11.40am (9.40am GMT), more than 470,000 subscribers are without electricity in the Lviv region. The most difficult situation is the restoration of electricity supply in Lviv and surrounding settlements. Energy companies have already started repair work and should restore power supply in the regional centre by the end of the day.
Here is an image of the scene in Kyiv where private houses have been struck as a result of the missile strikes launched by Russia on Thursday morning.
Rescuers work at a site of private houses heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Kyiv. Photograph: Ukrainian Presidential Office/ReutersThe all clear has now sounded in Ukraine’s capital, but earlier there were familiar scenes of civilians being forced to take shelter in the city’s Metro stations.
People rest in the subway station being used as a bomb shelter during an attack on Kyiv. Photograph: Efrem Lukatsky/APJournalist Tim Mak reports that the air raid alert continues in Kharkiv, to the east of Ukraine.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the office of president of Ukraine, has reported that two people were injured in a Russian attack on a medical facility in recently-liberated Kherson. He has posted to Telegram to say:
Medical facilities are under fire almost every day. The other day it was a maternity hospital. Today, as a result of Russian shelling of the city, the regional cardiology dispensary was damaged.
Two people were injured – a security guard and an employee of the boiler house. The roof, windows and facade of one of the buildings were destroyed in the building.
40% of Kyiv resident without electricity after missile attackKyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has provided an update on the power situation in the city on Telegram, saying that 40% of the residents are without electricity. He posted:
40% of the capital’s consumers are without electricity after the missile attack. In connection with the necessary safety measures used by power workers during an air alert. Power engineers are currently working on restoring the power supply. The city supplies heat and water as usual. In addition to houses where there is no energy supply, on which the operation of boiler rooms depends.
The TSN channel is carrying some quotes which it ascribes to Yuriy Ignat, the spokesperson of the air force command of the armed forces of Ukraine, which gives more detail on what Ukraine knows about this morning’s attacks. It quotes him saying:
The Russians used about 13 planes, two ships, there is tactical aviation. There are planes that can launch Kh-22 missiles. The activity is high. If 13 planes and two ships are involved, then you can understand that there can be about 100 missiles. They are ready for that many spend. I think there may be about 90 missiles.
Ukraine’s ministry of defence has issued a defiant statement after this morning’s series of missile attacks by Russia, tweeting:
Russian terrorists have been saving one of the most massive missile attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion for the last days of the year. They dream that Ukrainians will celebrate the new year in darkness and cold. But they cannot defeat the Ukrainian people.
russian terrorists have been saving one of the most massive missile attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion for the last days of the year.
They dream that Ukrainians will celebrate the New Year in darkness and cold.
But they cannot defeat the Ukrainian people.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 29, 2022 In the last few moments the official Telegram channel of the Kyiv city state administration has announced that the all-clear has been sounded. However, it cautioned residents “Please keep an eye on reports and return to shelter if the siren sounds again.”
Here is another view from Kyiv this morning showing Ukrainian air defence in action over the country’s capital. The city’s mayor claims that 16 missiles were successfully intercepted in the Kyiv region on Thursday morning.
Ukrainian air defence system intercepts a rocket launched by Russian forces. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty ImagesKyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, has posted to Telegram to say that air defence in the region shot down 16 Russian missiles – a figure which has increased from an initial total given as 15.
Maria Avdeeva, who describes herself as a “disinformation and security expert”, has posted a short unverified video clip which purports to show missiles flying over Kyiv this morning.
More than 120 missiles reported fired into Ukraine; casualties in KyivRussia launched a new wave of missile attacks across Ukraine on Thursday morning, with presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak claiming that more than 120 missiles had been fired.
Air defences in Mykolaiv and Odesa were reportedly successful in downing some of the barrage. The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, stated that three people were known to be injured in the country’s capital, including a 14-year-old girl. Two people had been rescued from a private house that had been struck by debris.
There were widespread reports of power outages as residents in cities across Ukraine were warned to stay in air raid shelters, charge their devices and stock up on water where possible. The city of Lviv was reported to be 90% without electricity as a result of the attacks. There were also explosions reported in Kharkiv. There were unconfirmed reports of drones being launched at Kyiv from the direction of Belarus.
The attack was criticised by the British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, who said Russia’s actions showed “Russia does not want peace with Ukraine, Russia wants the subjugation of Ukraine”.
The British ambassador to Ukraine, Melinda Simmons, has tweeted to say that the missile barrage this morning shows that “Russia does not want peace with Ukraine, Russia wants the subjugation of Ukraine”.
🇷🇺 missiles launched across 🇺🇦 including Kyiv and Lviv. Civilians injured. 🇷🇺 rejects @ZelenskyyUa peace plan. Russia does not want peace with Ukraine. Russia wants the subjugation of Ukraine.
— Melinda Simmons (@MelSimmonsFCDO) December 29, 2022 Isobel Koshiw is in Ukraine for the Guardian, and writes on Twitter “Three people hospitalised in Kyiv, acc to Klitschko, including a 14-year-old, after Russia launched another mass attack across Ukraine. More rockets are on the way, according to several regional heads. I’m on the train and no delay so far.”
Three people hospitalised in Kyiv, acc to Klitschko, including a 14-year-old, after Russia launched another mass attack across Ukraine.
More rockets are on the way, according to several regional heads.
I’m on the train and no delay so far.
— Isobel Koshiw (@IKoshiw) December 29, 2022 The mayor of Kyiv, Vitaliy Klitschko, has increased the injury count in Ukraine’s capital this morning to three, saying that among them is a 14-year-old girl.