Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:22pm on 31 Dec 2023,Sunday International
Ukraine witnessed heightened conflict as Russian air strikes, primarily targeting Kharkiv, unfolded in response to Ukrainian offensives on Belgorod. The Ukrainian air force reported the destruction of 21 out of 49 Russian drones overnight, strategically countering attacks on Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Zaporizhzhia. Russia defended its actions, attributing the strikes to Ukrainian assaults that claimed 24 lives in Belgorod. In Kharkiv, at least 28 people were injured, and civilian structures, including homes, cafes, and hospitals, suffered damage. Ukrainian air defenses engaged in repelling a Russian drone attack near Kyiv. These developments follow the deadliest day in Kyiv, where air strikes claimed 22 lives, bringing the overall death toll in Ukraine to at least 45 since Friday's assaults.
