Russian bombardment, air raid sirens mark Ukraine’s start to the New Year

Fragments from a missile destroyed by Ukrainian air defence systems damaged a car in the capital’s centre, but there were no wounded or casualties

Attacks came minutes after President Volodymyr Zelensky New Year message of wishes of victory for his country in the war that is in its 11th month

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A local resident embraces his son as they stand next to a site of a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine on December 31, 2022.Photo: Reuters/File

Published: 10:15am, 1 Jan 2023Updated: 3:24pm, 1 Jan 2023

Russia continued intense attacks on Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine early on New Year’s Day, following a barrage of missiles fired on Saturday, with air raid sirens wailing for hours overnight.

Ukraine’s Air Force command said that they had destroyed 45 Iranian-made Shahed drones – 32 of them after midnight on Sunday and 13 late on Saturday.

Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in a combative New Year address signalled that the war, now in its 11th month, will continue, a speech that contrasted with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s messages of gratitude and unity.

As sirens blared for over 4 hours in Kyiv, some people shouted from their balconies, “Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!” Reuters witnesses reported.

A damaged hotel in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv where a Japanese journalist was injured when the building was hit by a Russian missile on December 31, 2022. Photo: Kyodo/File

Curfews ranging from 7pm to midnight remained in place across the country, making celebrations for the start of 2023 impossible in public spaces.