A deadly overnight drone strike by Russia on New Year’s Eve left one person dead and at least six others, including a pregnant woman, injured in Kyiv, Ukrainian officials reported.
“In war, there are no holidays, and for Russia, nothing is sacred,” Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. “It spares no one, even killing people during New Year’s celebrations, starting a deadly countdown on the very first day. The world cannot let tyranny and dictatorship go unpunished in the new year.”
Russia launched more than 100 attack drones at 10 regions across Ukraine, including Kyiv. The Ukrainian military reported shooting down 63 of them, while another 46 failed to hit their targets.
“As the world rings in the New Year, Russia launches 111 drones at the people of Ukraine,” U.S. Ambassador Bridget A. Brink said on social media. “We are grateful for the air defenders and first responders whose bravery protects us all.”
Ukraine’s parliament chair, Ruslan Stefanchuk, said the country started the year with “another massive air attack,” calling those responsible “inhumans” who continued to target civilians. “They decided to give us a ‘hot start’ to the year,” Stefanchuk wrote, wishing the victims a speedy recovery.
Air raid sirens blared across Kyiv early New Year’s Day, urging people to head to shelters, the Kyiv City State Administration said. Most of the injuries were in the Pecherskyi district, where the attack ignited a fire in a residential building. Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, confirmed that one person was killed in that strike.
