KYIV, Ukraine – In the early hours of New Year’s Day, Russia launched a wave of drone attacks on Ukraine, resulting in a fierce response from Ukrainian forces. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, 90 drones were launched by Russia, with Ukraine managing to shoot down 87 of them.
The Ukrainian president has vowed to unleash the nation’s ‘wrath’ on Vladimir Putin’s forces in the wake of the attacks. The country announced that it had successfully destroyed a record number of Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones launched by Russia, with 87 out of 90 drones downed. The attacks resulted in casualties, with one person dying and nine others wounded in Odesa after a fire ignited as debris of a Russian drone hit a high rise building.
In his televised New Year’s address to Ukraine, President Zelensky emphasized that Russia would soon face the ‘wrath of domestic production.’ He also revealed plans for Ukraine to acquire at least ‘a million’ additional drones in its arsenal next year, along with F-16 fighter jets delivered by Western partners.
The attacks also resulted in significant damage to port infrastructure and various other locations in Ukraine. The mayor of Odesa, Gennady Trukhanov, condemned the attacks and expressed defiance against Russia’s aggression.
As the situation continues to develop, the number of victims from the missile attacks on various cities has increased, prompting Ukraine to urge Western allies to maintain military support. In response, Britain announced that it would send hundreds more air-defense missiles to Kyiv. Despite the ongoing conflict, Ukraine remains resilient in its fight against the invading Russian forces and is determined to defend its sovereignty.
As the tensions between Russia and Ukraine escalate, the region is on high alert, with both sides continuing to engage in military actions. The ongoing conflict highlights the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to ensure the safety and security of the region.