The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was subject Sunday to numerous shelling attacks from Russian-occupied parts of the Kherson region, across the Dnieper River, local officials said.
Quick Read
- Shelling Attacks in Kherson: The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was subjected to multiple shelling attacks from Russian-occupied areas across the Dnieper River.
- Casualties Reported: According to Roman Mrochko, head of the Kherson city administration, two people died, and several others were injured in the attacks.
- Drone and Missile Attacks: The Ukrainian Air Force reported that air defense systems shot down 21 out of 28 drones launched by Russia overnight. Additionally, Russia launched three anti-aircraft missiles against Ukraine.
- Evacuation in Belgorod, Russia: Over 100 residents of Belgorod, a Russian city near the Ukrainian border, evacuated to a safer location further from the border.
- Attacks on Belgorod: Ukrainian attacks on Belgorod on December 30 resulted in 25 casualties, with ongoing rocket and drone attacks reported throughout the week.
- Orthodox Christmas Observance: Russian military personnel marked Orthodox Christmas with services on the front line. President Vladimir Putin attended Christmas Eve services with families of military personnel who died in the Ukraine war.
- Putin’s Remarks: Putin spoke to the families of fallen soldiers, emphasizing the defense of Russia’s interests by military personnel even during the holiday.
- Patriarch Kirill’s Statement: In his annual Christmas interview, Patriarch Kirill, the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, spoke about the challenges of the war in Ukraine, emphasizing the importance of love for the Motherland and readiness to defend it.
The Associated Press has the story:
2 dead in Kherson as soldiers celebrate Orthodox Christmas on the front line
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) —
The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson was subject Sunday to numerous shelling attacks from Russian-occupied parts of the Kherson region, across the Dnieper River, local officials said.
The head of the Kherson city administration, Roman Mrochko, said two people died in the attacks and several others were wounded.
Air defense shot down 21 of 28 drones launched by Russia overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday. Russia also launched three anti-aircraft missiles against Ukraine.
In Russia, more than 100 residents of the Russian border city of Belgorod have evacuated to an area further from the Ukrainian border, local officials said.
“On behalf of the regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, we met the first Belgorod residents who decided to move to the safest place. More than 100 people were placed in our temporary accommodation centers,” Andrey Chesnokov, head of the Stary Oskol district, some 115 kilometers (71 miles) from Belgorod, wrote on Telegram.
Ukrainian attacks on Dec. 30 in Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said, with rocket and drone attacks continuing throughout this week.
Meanwhile, Russian military personnel marked Orthodox Christmas on Sunday. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that military priests led prayer services on the front line both on Sunday and on Christmas Eve night.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who have died in the war in Ukraine at Christmas Eve services at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence, in the western suburbs of Moscow.
“Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, are warriors of Russia even now, during the holiday — with arms in hand they defend the interests of our country,” he said to the attending families, according to the Kremlin’s press service.
In his annual Christmas interview, carried by Russian state news agency TASS, Patriarch Kirill, leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, referenced the war in Ukraine.
“The trials that befall us today…they are not capable of crushing our worldview, which directly includes love for the Motherland and readiness to defend it,” he said, when asked how to reassure Russians in the midst of military and civilian deaths.
