One other Russian missile wave hits Ukraine on New 12 months’s Eve – POLITICO

Russia launched one other wave of missile strikes towards civilian targets in Ukraine on New 12 months’s Eve, the chief commander of Kyiv’s armed forces mentioned, leaving no less than one individual lifeless.

Ukrainian forces shot down 12 out of greater than 20 cruise missiles fired towards the nation, Chief Commander Valery Zaluzhnyy mentioned in a press release on Fb. Six missiles had been destroyed within the Kyiv area, 5 in Zhytomyr, and one within the Khmelnytskyi area, Zaluznhyy mentioned.

One individual was killed and no less than 20 extra had been injured within the assault on Kyiv, Mayor Vitaly Klitschko mentioned in a tweet. Two colleges, a kindergarten and a lodge had been broken in central Kyiv. About 30 p.c of Kyiv households stay with out electrical energy, the mayor added.  

Saturday’s barrage adopted a much bigger assault on Thursday, when Russia launched 70 missiles on Ukraine. Moscow despatched 16 drones on Friday. Ukrainian air protection managed to shoot down 54 of the missiles and the entire drones. Belarus claimed it downed one stray Ukrainian air protection missile.

Russia and Ukraine additionally carried out a significant prisoner-of-war swap on Saturday, with Kyiv bringing house 140 individuals from Russian captivity, Andriy Yermak, head of the president’s workplace, mentioned in a tweet. “This New 12 months’s Eve, we not solely repel the enemy’s missile assaults but in addition convey again our individuals,” Yermak mentioned on Telegram.