Kyiv was once more focused by a wave of Russian drones early on December 14 within the first such assault in weeks, however air-defense methods prevented any main harm, metropolis authorities stated, as fierce preventing raged within the east, the place Moscow’s forces stored up the stress on your entire entrance line with heavy artillery shelling and missile strikes.
Two administrative buildings have been broken, Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote in a publish on Telegram, after explosions have been heard within the metropolis’s central Shevchenkivskiy district, which is residence to many authorities companies and buildings.
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Air pressure spokesman Yuriy Ihnat stated Ukrainian air-defense methods had been efficient.
“The air defenses labored nicely,” he stated. “13 (drones) have been shot down.”
“Effectively achieved, I’m proud,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated in a short video message, praising the air-defense methods which he stated appeared to have shot down all of the drones.
Oleksiy Kuleba, the governor of the capital area, additionally stated many of the drones have been shot down, with out giving additional particulars.
Air-attack alerts have been issued within the Zhytomyr and Luhansk areas.
Vitaliy Bunechko, the governor of the Zhytomyr area, wrote on Telegram that “a second wave of drone assaults is feasible” and urged folks to stay in shelters.
In latest weeks, Ukraine has confronted a barrage of Russian air strikes throughout the nation that brought on intensive harm to its vitality infrastructure and left thousands and thousands with out electrical energy, water, and heating.
WATCH: Utilizing all their powers of persuasion, Ukrainian volunteers attempt to win over residents of Bakhmut, a metropolis on the japanese entrance of the struggle with Russia, to allow them to take them to safer locations to the west.
Ihnat stated the entire variety of Iranian drones launched on December 14 was being verified however that Russia had used some 400 because the first was shot down by Ukraine in mid-September.
It was unclear whether or not Russia was utilizing a brand new batch of Iranian drones or had not but used up its outdated inventory, Ihnat stated.
The most recent wave of assaults comes as three unnamed U.S. officers advised Reuters that an announcement on Washington’s plans to offer the Patriot missile-defense system to Ukraine might be made as quickly as this week.
There was no speedy remark from the Pentagon or from the Ukrainian authorities.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on December 14 stated that Patriot methods would “undoubtedly” be a professional goal for Russia however wouldn’t touch upon unconfirmed reviews.
The Patriot is considered one of the superior U.S. air-defense methods and is often in brief provide, with allies world wide vying for it.
Zelenskiy pressed Western leaders as lately as December 12 to offer extra superior weapons to assist Ukraine.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned NATO towards equipping Kyiv with Patriot methods.
On the battlefront, the Ukrainian navy repelled assaults by Russian forces on 14 positions in three areas — Donetsk, Luhansk, and Kharkiv — throughout the previous 24 hours, the Common Workers of the Ukrainian navy reported early on December 14.
Heavy preventing continued within the cities of Bakhmut and Avdiyivka in Donetsk.
Invading Russian forces have fought to grab Bakhmut for months as a part of a grinding battle for management of the Donetsk area.
In keeping with the Common Workers, Russian troops within the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhya areas “launched one air and 11 missile strikes, three of them on civilian infrastructure… [and] launched greater than 60 assaults from multiple-rocket launchers” up to now 24 hours.
Dnipropetrovsk area Governor Valentyn Reznichenko stated on December 14 that Russian forces shelled the cities of Nikopol and Marganets all through the night time.
In response to a query on whether or not Russia would pause hostilities for Christmas or the New 12 months, Peskov on December 14 stated the Kremlin had not obtained any proposals from Kyiv to halt preventing in Ukraine through the upcoming vacation interval and Moscow was not planning a cease-fire.
“No, no proposals have been obtained from anybody and no matter of this sort is on the agenda,” Peskov stated.
