Russia has said its forces have prevented a Ukrainian attack on Crimea, destroying ten Ukrainian missiles over the Russian-annexed peninsula.
Ukraine has staged a string of damaging attacks on Crimea in the course of the 22-month-old war, including on warships, airfields, the headquarters of Russia’s Black Sea fleet and the bridge that connects the peninsula to southern Russia.
Russia’s defence ministry said the Ukrainian guided missiles were shot down by its air defences.
Ukraine said it attacked a Russian military unit near Yevpatoria in Crimea.
“Thanks to the air force pilots and everyone who planned the operation for perfect combat work,” Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said on social media, referring to a screenshot from local media saying the unit came under attack.
Russian-installed governor of the Crimean city of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said all services were on high alert and urged residents to remain calm.
Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and used it as one of the launchpads for its full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022.
Ukraine, despite lacking any substantial navy of its own, has managed to inflict a series of blows on Russia’s navy, most recently when it struck a large Russian warship with cruise missiles last month in the Crimean port of Feodosia.
The New Year period saw an intensification of Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine.
It hit back with attacks in southern Russia, where authorities said 25 people were killed in the Belgorod region last Saturday.
Regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said military experts were working to defuse three pieces of unexploded Ukrainian ordnance in the city of Belgorod today that forced authorities to evacuate 600 people from their homes.
Cross-border strikes into southern Russia have become a regular occurrence but Saturday’s was by far the deadliest, overshadowing New Year celebrations and prompting some residents to leave in fear of further attacks.
NATO and Ukraine to hold special meeting on air defence
Ambassadors from NATO and Ukraine will hold a special meeting next week as Kyiv urges faster deliveries of air defences after mounting Russian strikes, the alliance said.
The meeting, due to take place on 10 January, has been convened at Ukraine’s request following missile and drone attacks on its civilians, cities and towns, according to a NATO spokesperson.
Kyiv said the incidents underline the need for Western allies to speed up delivery of air defence equipment, combat drones and long-range missiles.
The call comes as support from leading NATO power the United States is running dry due to stalemate in the US Congress.
NATO spokesman Dylan White said: “NATO allies have already delivered a vast array of air defence systems to Ukraine and they are committed to further bolstering Ukraine’s defences.”
Kyiv says the latest attacks underline the need for Western allies to speed up delivery of air defence equipment, combat drones and long-range missiles.
But the call comes as support from leading NATO power the US is running dry due to stalemate in the US Congress.
NATO spokesman Dylan White said: “NATO allies have already delivered a vast array of air defence systems to Ukraine and they are committed to further bolstering Ukraine’s defences.”
A senior Ukrainian commander said that Kyiv’s mobile air defences have enough ammunition to withstand a few more powerful attacks, but then will need further Western aid.
“The current situation with man-portable air defence systems for mobile air defence groups is that there is enough ammunition to withstand the next few powerful attacks,” Sergiy Nayev, commander of the joint forces of the armed forces of Ukraine, said.
“But in the medium and long term, we need help from Western countries to replenish the missile stock,” added the lieutenant-general, who oversees mobile air defence units in Kyiv and Ukraine’s northern region, which are armed with portable guns rather than larger systems such as Patriots.
“The priority is more ammunition,” he said, since the Russians “really want to deplete our air defence system.”
“Of course, we would like more missiles for Patriots and the systems themselves,” Mr Navev added, referring to larger US-supplied surface-to-air missile systems that Ukraine says downed ten Kinzhal ballistic missiles on Tuesday.
Asked whether people in Kyiv can feel safe, he said: “improving the effectiveness of the air defence system is our task, and we are working on it 24/7”.
“Every Ukrainian citizen should know that the military leadership is doing everything in its power to ensure their peace of mind”.
Latest developments in the war in Ukraine
One civilian was killed and eight wounded this morning in a strike on Kropynmytskyi in central Ukraine, damaging energy company buildings and causing power and water supply cuts, the regional governor said.
Russia likely used an X-59 missile, governor Andriy Raikovych said.
“Ordinary working people were injured … One worker,unfortunately, died. A simple car mechanic,” he said.
Mr Raikovych added on social media that all those hurt had shrapnel wounds.
Damage to power lines resulted in power outages and water supply cuts in several parts of the city though services were restored later, according to Mr Raikovych.
Eleven villages in the eastern Donetsk region, which has seen some of the heaviest fighting in the war, faced multiple attacks yesterday.
“One person was killed and three others were injured as a result,” the interior ministry said, adding that residential buildings, cars, a pipeline and power line were damaged.
The ministry also published images of partially burned buildings after five missiles struck the city of Kurakhove.
