Ukraine weathered a fresh New Year’s fusillade of missile and drone strikes one day after Russian strikes damaged three schools, a kindergarten and several private houses. Ukraine’s air defense forces said it shot down 45 drones overnight.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy used a New Year’s Eve address to rally his people and celebrate the country’s survival. “We will fight. And when we win, we will hug,” he said.
Loud explosions were heard in around Kyiv, including downtown, as Russia launched almost 30 Iranian-made Shahed drones, hitting infrastructure, Ukraine’s military said. At least seven people were hospitalized and 1 died in the western region of Khmelnytskyi after Russia’s missile attack damaged 8 vehicles, 13 residential houses, and a fuel station. Russia also attacked the port of Ochakiv in the southern Mykolaiv region, damaging residential houses and a company, according to a military update.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko called on Germany to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, in a guest editorial in Germany’s Bild newspaper.
“We are hoping for more aid in 2023. It will be crucial for Germany to finally deliver Leopard 2 tanks,” Klitschko wrote. “Without this type of tank, it will be very difficult to recapture further territory in Ukraine.” He also thanked Germany for the Iris-T air-defense missile system “that means our civil infrastructure isn’t fully destroyed.”
On Saturday, Russia and Ukraine carried out a prisoner swap that saw 140 Ukrainians returned to the country for 82 Russians. Such prisoner swaps have been carried out periodically during the conflict.
