Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/KYIV: Russian drones targeted key infrastructure in Kyiv and surrounding areas of Ukraine’s capital on Monday, officials said.
Moscow extended its continuous bombardment on Kyiv and other areas into the second day in 2023.
Drones blasted out on the sky
Ukrainians cheered from the balconies of their houses as their air shields and defences blasted Russian missiles and drones in the sky on the first day of the New Year that Moscow ushered in by attacking civilian targets across Ukraine.
People shouted glory to Ukraine and glory to the heroes! as air raid sirens blared during the late-night attack.
According to Reuters, Ukraine shot down 45 Iran-provided Shahed drones fired by Russia on the first night of the year.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised Ukrainians for their resilience and showing gratitude to the troops.
He said that drones, missiles and everything else would not help Russians because they stood united and Russians were united only by fear.
On the other hand, Russian President Vladimir Putin signalled no let-up in his attacks on Ukraine.
Kyiv Governor Oleksiy Kuleba said it was loud in the capital because of the night drone attacks.
He alleged that Russians launched several waves of Shahed drones, targetting critical infrastructure facilities.
Its military said that Ukraine’s air defence systems destroyed at least 20 air objects above Kyiv.
Earlier, at least one person was wounded by debris from a drone destroyed over Kyiv that hit the road and damaged a nearby building in a northeastern district of the capital.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian forces claimed that 400 Russian soldiers were on New Year’s Eve in Makiivka in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region.
Pro-Russian authorities in Makiivka admitted to the casualties, but Russia refused to confirm the number of deaths.
