675 Day the Russia-Ukraine War Conflict Updates
In a grim turn of events, Ukraine experienced the most substantial Russian air assault of the ongoing war, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 30 lives and leaving 160 individuals injured
HERE IS THE SITUATION ON SATURDAY DECEMBER 29, 2023. (675 DAY)
In a grim escalation of the conflict, Russia unleashed a massive wave of missile strikes targeting Ukrainian cities, including the capital, marking what Ukraine’s defense minister deems the most significant air attack of the ongoing war. The strikes, which occurred on Friday morning, resulted in the tragic loss of at least 30 civilians and left 160 injured in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv, and other cities in the west and south. Shockingly, residential buildings, a shopping center, and a maternity hospital in Dnipro were among the targeted locations, intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
The Ukrainian air force responded vigorously, claiming to have successfully downed 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones out of a total of 158 aerial targets fired by Russia. Ukraine’s defense minister, Rustem Umerov, described the assault as the “most massive air attack of this war,” involving 18 strategic bombers that specifically targeted infrastructure, industrial sites, and military facilities.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy condemned the attack, revealing that approximately 110 missiles were launched by Russia, utilizing nearly every weapon in its arsenal. Despite the devastating assault, Zelenskiy affirmed, “Russian terror must and will lose.”
The conflict’s reach extended beyond Ukraine’s borders, with Poland reporting the entry of an unidentified airborne object, identified as a Russian missile, into its airspace for less than three minutes. While Poland’s defense forces monitored the incident, Russia denied the allegation, stating that Warsaw provided no evidence of a missile breaching its airspace.
In response to the attacks, the UN Security Council, including key members such as the US, France, and Britain, swiftly condemned the violence. UN assistant secretary general Khaled Khiari expressed deep concern, stating, “Tragically, 2023 is ending as it began, with devastating violence against the people of Ukraine.”
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Britain announced plans to send approximately 200 air-defense missiles to Ukraine in the aftermath of the strikes. UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps emphasized the urgency, stating the move aimed to bolster Ukraine’s air defense against Putin’s “murderous airstrikes.” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak denounced the attacks as an assault on freedom and democracy.
In a retaliatory move, Ukraine struck a residential building in the Russian city of Belgorod, resulting in casualties and damage to the city’s water supply system. Meanwhile, the US President, Joe Biden, urged Congress to act urgently and overcome divisions to provide aid to Ukraine, emphasizing the need for continued support against Russia’s aggressive tactics.
As Ukraine faces increasing challenges and signs of war fatigue, Ukrainian officials are appealing to Western allies for additional air defenses to protect against future aerial attacks. A senior German military figure, Christian Freuding, overseeing the German army’s support for Kyiv, predicted that Russia would emerge weakened both materially and personnel-wise from the conflict, highlighting the significant losses incurred.
SOURCE : www.theguardian.com/
