In a bizarre turn of events, the new year in Ukraine started with a bang - quite literally. Russia, known for its flair in surprising the world, decided to mark the occasion by launching a whopping 90 Shahed-type drones over Ukraine during the early hours. Talk about setting some unconventional resolutions!
As the drones took to the skies, chaos ensued. One unfortunate incident resulted in a 15-year-old boy losing his life, and seven others suffered injuries when debris from one of the 87 downed drones crashed into a residential building in Odesa. And if that wasn't enough, fires broke out, including one at the city's port. New year, new fires, I suppose?
But wait, there's more. In the western city of Lviv, Russian attacks left a museum dedicated to Roman Shukhevych, a controversial Ukrainian nationalist and military commander, severely damaged. It seems even history isn't safe from the clutches of this peculiar war. The mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, rightfully deemed the strike as 'symbolic and cynical,' reminding us that this battle is about more than just territory. It's a war for their very history.
Unfortunately, the casualties continued to mount. Ukrainian shelling on Russian-occupied areas of Donetsk claimed the lives of four individuals, with 13 more left injured. The Russian-installed leader of the region, Denis Pushilin, lamented the loss, mentioning that a journalist was among the victims. Unfortunately, no further details were provided by Russian state media.
Not to be outdone, Ukraine made its own mark by launching an attack on the Russian border town of Shebekino. Tragically, one person lost their life, and another was wounded in the process. It seems like this tit-for-tat exchange knows no bounds, not even international borders.
To put this wild start to the new year into context, it follows a series of heavy aerial bombardments initiated by Russia just a few days prior. With one air force official describing it as the biggest aerial barrage of the war, there's no denying that Russia wanted to make a grand entrance into 2023. At least 49 people lost their lives in the initial bombardment, and rescuers in Kyiv are still recovering bodies from the rubble.
Sadly, the grim reality of war doesn't discriminate. Shelling attributed to Ukraine in Belgorod, a Russian border city, claimed the lives of 21 people, including three innocent children. It's yet another heartbreaking reminder of the devastating consequences that innocent lives bear the brunt of during times of conflict.
As we reflect on these shocking events, it's clear that the new year is off to a chaotic start in Ukraine. Amidst the rubble and the ruins, lives have been lost, buildings have been destroyed, and tensions continue to rise. While the world welcomes the new year with bated breath and resolutions for a better future, the people of Ukraine find themselves caught in the crossfire of a conflict that shows no signs of abating.
Let us hope that the rest of the world can find a way to bring peace to this troubled region and usher in a future where drones are only employed for more mundane tasks - like delivering packages or capturing breathtaking aerial views.
