KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a report 90 Shahed-type drones throughout Ukraine throughout the early hours of the brand new 12 months, and Russian President Vladimir Putin stated his nation would “intensify” its assaults on its neighbor.
Speaking throughout a New Year’s Day go to to a army hospital, Putin stated Ukraine might anticipate extra such strikes after shelling of the Russian border metropolis of Belgorod that killed greater than two dozen folks and wounded greater than 100 others.
“They want to intimidate us and create uncertainty within our country. We will intensify strikes. Not a single crime against our civilian population will go unpunished,” the Russian chief stated, describing the barrage of Belgorod as a “terrorist act.”
Russia has blamed Ukraine for Saturday’s assault, which was one of many deadliest to happen on Russian soil since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began greater than 22 months in the past. Russian officers stated the dying toll stood at 25 as of Monday.
Cities throughout western Russia usually have come underneath drone assaults since May, though Ukrainian officers by no means acknowledge duty for strikes on Russian territory or the Crimean Peninsula.
Putin accused Western nations of utilizing Ukraine to try to “put Russia in its place.” While vowing retribution, he insisted Russia would solely goal army infrastructure in Ukraine.
“Of course, we can hit public squares in Kyiv and in any other Ukrainian city,” he stated. “I understand — I’m boiling with rage — but do we need to hit civilians? No. We are hitting military targets, and that’s what we will keep doing.”
The wave of drone assaults in Ukraine continued all through the day Monday.
A 15-year-old boy was killed and 7 folks wounded after falling particles from one in every of 87 downed drones hit a residential constructing within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Odesa, the pinnacle of the area’s army administration, Oleh Kiper, stated. Debris additionally sparked a variety of small fires, together with on the metropolis’s port.
In the western metropolis of Lviv, Russian assaults severely broken a museum devoted to Roman Shukhevych, a controversial Ukrainian nationalist and army commander who fought for Ukrainian independence throughout World War II. University buildings within the city of Dubliany have been additionally broken, though no casualties have been reported.
Writing on social media, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyi described the strike as “symbolic and cynical,” including, “this is a war for our history.”
Meanwhile, 4 folks have been killed and 13 extra wounded following Ukrainian shelling on Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk, in accordance with the area’s Kremlin-installed chief, Denis Pushilin. Russian state media reported {that a} journalist was among the many victims, however supplied no additional particulars.
One individual was additionally killed and one other wounded in shelling on the Russian border city of Shebekino, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov stated.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”