Ukraine Russia struggle newest: Moscow launches 130 drones in Christmas evening assault killing a minimum of two
At least two people have been killed after Russia launched more than 130 drones on Ukraine on Christmas night, Kyiv officials have said.
Moscow’s latest aerial assault killed one man in Kharvkiv and another in Odesa, with around 35 others injured, Ukraine’s Air Force reported. Further attacks were launched overnight on Zaporizhzhia and Sumy.
The continued Russia assaults on Ukraine come despite US and European efforts to seal a peace deal.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined a new peace plan that involves creating demilitarised or free economic zones in eastern Ukraine as a possible route to ending the war.
The proposal offers Kyiv Nato-style security guarantees while insisting that any demilitarised zones remain under Ukrainian administration and policing. Russia has yet to respond to the deal but the Kremlin has repeatedly insisted any agreement will not be reached quickly.
Deadly attacks between the two sides have taken place throughout the week. At least three people died in an explosion in southern Moscow at the site where a Russian general was killed earlier this week.
Polish jets intercept Russian plane over the Baltic
Polish jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea, which was flying close to its airspace, the NATO country’s army said.
Countries on NATO’s eastern flank have been on high alert for potential airspace incursions since September when three Russian military jets violated Estonia’s airspace for 12 minutes just days after more than 20 Russian drones had entered Polish airspace.
“This morning, over the international waters of the Baltic Sea, Polish fighter jets intercepted, visually identified, and escorted from their area of responsibility a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying near the borders of Polish airspace,” the army said.
It also said that at night, objects were observed entering Polish airspace from the direction of Belarus.
“After detailed analysis, it was determined that these were most likely smuggling balloons, moving in accordance with the wind direction and speed,” the army said.
It added that part of the airspace over northeast Poland’s Podlaskie region, which borders Belarus, was temporarily closed to civilian traffic to ensure security.
Putin wishes Trump a merry Christmas
Vladimir Putin has wished Donald Trump a merry Christmas and sent him a congratulatory message, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.
Putin is not expected to speak with Trump on Thursday, no such call is scheduled, he added.
Ukraine’s president Zelensky appears to wish death to Putin in Christmas message
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has appeared to wish for the death of Vladimir Putin in a Christmas message after Russia continued to bombard the country with missiles and drones.
In a video posted to X on Christmas Eve, Zelensky said that “despite all the suffering that Russia has brought, it is not capable of occupying or bombing what matters most. That is our Ukrainian heart, our faith in one another, and our unity”.
Appearing to refer to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Zelensky added: “Today, we all share one dream.
“And we make one wish – for all of us. ‘May he perish’, each of us may think to ourselves. But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater. we ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it, we pray for it, we deserve it.”
Russia drone strikes on Christmas night kill two
Two people have been killed and around 35 more injured in overnight Russian attacks on Ukraine.
More than 130 drones were launched in the latest salvo, Ukraine officials said.
One man was killed in Odesa and another in Kharkiv in the Christmas night assault.
Ukraine’s military said it managed to shoot down 106 of the drones but 22 made it through, hitting 15 locations.
Ukraine unveils 20-point peace proposal under discussion with US
However, Volodymyr Zelensky said sensitive issues around territorial control in the country’s eastern industrial heartland, along with the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), remain unresolved.
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Russian bombers conduct flight over Barents and Norwegian seas, defence ministry says
Russia said its nuclear-capable Tu-95 bombers carried out a routine flight over the Norwegian and Barents Seas, during which they were monitored by foreign fighter jets.
Moscow stressed the mission was planned and in line with international law, without specifying the date or the countries involved.
The statement comes amid wider regional tensions, following recent criticism from Japan and South Korea over Russian and Chinese military flights near their airspace.
“Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers and missile carriers carried out a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Barents and Norwegian Seas, Russia’s defence ministry said.
“At certain stages of the route, long-range bombers were escorted by fighter jets of foreign countries.”
Zelensky calls for peace for Ukraine in Christmas Eve address
Volodymyr Zelensky used a Christmas Eve address to call for peace in Ukraine, invoking a tradition of making a single wish on the night “the heavens open”.
He urged Ukrainians to seek something greater than revenge.
He said: “‘May he perish,’ each of us may think to ourselves,” referring to Russian president Vladimir Putin, “But when we turn to God, of course, we ask for something greater.”
“We ask for peace for Ukraine. We fight for it. And we pray for it. And we deserve it,” Zelensky said.
“That every Ukrainian family may live in harmony. That every Ukrainian child may rejoice in a gift, smile and preserve that so very important childlike faith in goodness and in miracles.”
Zelensky said: “That there may be a victory of peace. That there may be us. And that there may be Ukraine.”
Russia launches hundreds of drones in major attack on Ukraine as hopes for Christmas ceasefire deal fade
Three people were killed including a four-year-old child, Ukraine officials said, in a large-scale Russian drone attack on the country just two days before Christmas.
The latest barrage, involving more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles, comes as hopes of securing a US-brokered ceasefire before 25 December fade.
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Odesa father who lost family in drone strike survives second Russian attack
An Odesa father who lost his wife and infant son in a Russian drone strike in March last year has survived a second attack on his home, Kyiv Independent reported.
While his house can be rebuilt, Serhii Haidarzhy said the true loss is irreversible: “But life — you can never bring it back. Never. So the difference between then and now is enormous,” he said.
His young daughter, having endured two strikes, now understands the war, he says.
Haidarzhy says he draws strength from faith rather than vengeance: “I don’t have a burning desire for revenge. God will avenge us. And you know, God’s justice is not like human justice. It is much harsher.”
Ukraine unveils 20-point peace proposal under discussion with US
However, Volodymyr Zelensky said sensitive issues around territorial control in the country’s eastern industrial heartland, along with the management of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), remain unresolved.
“This is a document referred to as a framework, a foundational document on ending the war, a political document between us, America, Europe, and the Russians,” Mr Zelensky said.
“We are ready for a meeting with the United States at the leaders’ level to address sensitive issues. Matters such as territorial questions must be discussed at the leaders’ level.”
The recent proposal comes after weeks of modifying an earlier 28-point plan, which was heavily criticised by Ukraine and Nato leaders.
Source: independent.co.uk
