The Ukrainian Air Force announced Friday that it had shot down 14 cruise missiles out of a total of 19 launched by Russia, a new nighttime attack that left at least two dead.
The city of Kharkiv woke up to bombs on Friday.
Russian cruise missiles evaded Ukrainian air defenses and hit at least four residential buildings. Results: at least one dead and 3 injured.
The strikes also damaged a power station.
“When I ran along the window calling for my cat, I thought he was dead there. I was so happy to see him come back later. Thank God we are alive. I thought it was the end” explains Iryna Hrekova, a resident of Kharkiv.
Russian troops fired more than 50 times on Friday at localities on the right bank of Kherson, more than 400 shells fell, wounding six people. Walls, fences and roofs of houses were cut by fragments of weapons.
As for a possible ceasefire and peace negotiations, here is the response from the Kremlin spokesperson: “Washington wants Russia to engage in peace talks on kyiv’s terms in 2024. Do you think such a wish is realistic?” a Russian journalist asks him.
“Totally unrealistic” replies Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson.
Ukraine, strengthened by the Western military aid received, is destroying the majority of these devices, but it is demanding more resources to be able to hold out for the months to come.
According to Kyiv, Moscow is trying, like last winter, to plunge the population into darkness and cold by targeting the country’s energy infrastructure.
So far, Ukraine has not experienced any major power outages. But for the first time this week, authorities called on Ukrainians to reduce their electricity consumption after a strike on a thermal power plant near the front.
