KYIV - Russia initiated its most extensive air assault on Ukraine, resulting in the tragic death of 31 civilians and causing injuries to over 160 others, while also inflicting damage on cities and vital infrastructure across the country. The attack, marked by 87 cruise missiles and 27 drones intercepted by Ukrainian forces out of a total of 158 aerial targets, was deemed the most substantial air offensive in the ongoing conflict.
NATO member Poland reported that a Russian missile seemingly breached its airspace for approximately 40 km before returning to Ukraine in less than three minutes. Despite this claim, the Russian charge d'affaires, summoned by the Polish Foreign Ministry, contended that Warsaw failed to provide any evidence supporting the allegation.
The Ukrainian foreign ministry asserted that this assault underscored the inappropriateness of discussing a truce with the Kremlin amid uncertainty regarding Western support. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba emphasized the urgent need for allies to continue sending long-term aid to Ukraine. In a hastily-convened U.N. Security Council session, the majority of members, including the United States, France, and Britain, condemned the attacks.
Russia's UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, maintained that Moscow exclusively targeted military infrastructure and attributed civilian casualties to Ukraine's air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, on Telegram messenger, described the onslaught as Russia utilizing its entire arsenal, firing approximately 110 missiles, most of which were successfully intercepted.
The devastating impact of the airstrikes was felt in Kyiv, where at least nine people lost their lives and 30 others were wounded, and in various regions across Ukraine. The assault, hitting a diverse range of targets such as warehouses, residential buildings, shopping centers, and even a maternity ward, left a trail of destruction. The death toll varied across regions, with casualties reported in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Odesa, Lviv, and Kharkiv.
Ukraine had previously warned of the possibility of Russia launching major air attacks on its energy system, similar to incidents in the past winter. The Russian defense ministry, in a summary of recent military activities, acknowledged one "massive" strike on Ukraine since December 23 but provided no specific details.
As global condemnation grows, the UN Security Council convened urgently to address the situation. UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari lamented the ongoing violence against the people of Ukraine, emphasizing the tragic start and end of 2023. Most council members, including the United States, France, and Britain, condemned the attacks, with U.S. Minister-Counselor John Kelley criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin's choice to mark the holiday season with unprecedented drone and missile strikes.
China's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, Geng Shuang, refrained from condemning the attacks, calling for a "political solution" instead. In a lengthy response, Russia's UN ambassador, Vasily Nebenzya, reiterated that Russia targeted only military infrastructure, placing the blame on Ukraine's air defense for civilian casualties. In contrast, Britain's ambassador, Barbara Woodward, held Russia solely responsible for the tragedy, dismissing Nebenzya's remarks as "lies and disinformation."
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned Russia's attacks on Ukraine, emphasizing the violation of international humanitarian law and the urgent need for these assaults against civilians and infrastructure to cease immediately.