Three people were injured in Odesa while Ukraine claims to have shot down 19 Russian drones.
On Wednesday, Ukraine’s armed forces reported that they successfully took out 19 out of 20 drones that were launched by Russia in their overnight attacks. However, it was reported that debris from the destroyed drones caused injuries to three individuals in the port city of Odesa.
The armed forces reported that the majority of the unmanned aerial vehicles were aimed at the Odesa area. According to Ukraine’s Ministry of Interior, fragments hit residential structures and caused damage to a gas pipeline.
On Tuesday, there were missile attacks in the northeastern city of Kharkiv that injured at least 17 people, followed by a drone strike.
According to a message on Telegram from Kharkiv’s regional governor Oleh Synehubov, the city center, along with residential structures, was hit by two S-300 missiles from Russia.
Kharkiv’s Mayor, Ihor Terekhov, shared on Telegram that the missiles caused damage to a minimum of 10 structures, specifically targeting areas without any military presence but where civilians reside.
On January 17, 2024, rescuers and law enforcement personnel were seen at a location in Kharkiv, Ukraine where a residential building was severely damaged by a missile strike from Russia during their ongoing attack on Ukraine.
According to the governor of Odesa region, a drone attack originating from Russia caused injuries to at least three individuals and inflicted damage to multiple residential structures in the southern city of Odesa.
According to a recent report released by the United Nations on Tuesday, Russian assaults resulted in a rise of civilian casualties in Ukraine during the month of December.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported a 26.5% increase in civilian casualties from November to December, rising from 468 to 592.
According to Danielle Bell, the head of the U.N. monitoring mission, there was a decrease in civilian casualties in 2023. However, a series of attacks in late December and early January abruptly disrupted this trend.
Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, provided reassurance to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding solid and lasting support for Ukraine. He also expressed the Biden administration’s commitment to continue providing military assistance to Ukrainian forces.
Blinken spoke at the beginning of discussions on Tuesday during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The highest-ranking representative from the United States stated that the demonstration of backing is occurring during a period when Ukraine is being targeted by numerous Russian assaults on their infrastructure and citizens.
Blinken acknowledged that the bravery and perseverance of the Ukrainian people and their security forces are evident every day.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the United States for their assistance, particularly in providing air defense systems which have been crucial in aiding Ukrainian forces in protecting their country from drone and missile strikes by Russia.
The assaults have involved attacks on various cities in Ukraine, resulting in damage and injuries from downed drones and missiles.
Ukrainian President Zelenskyy and other officials have urged the U.S. and European allies to provide additional support for Ukraine’s air defense. This appeal has come at a time when U.S. funding for future aid has decreased.
The Biden administration has requested from Congress a substantial amount of funding for Ukraine, alongside a comprehensive security package that includes support for Israel and funding for U.S. border security. However, this proposal has faced opposition from certain Republicans in Congress who are demanding further measures for border security.
The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters provided some information for this report.
Source: voanews.com
