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Russia Drones Blast Odesa 12/31 07:27
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) -- Russian drones blasted apartment buildings and the
power grid in the southern Ukraine city of Odesa in an overnight attack that
injured six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said
Wednesday.
Four apartment buildings were damaged in the bombardment, according to
regional military administration head Oleh Kiper. Power company DTEK said two
of its energy facilities suffered significant damage. The company said that 10
substations that distribute electricity in the Odesa region were damaged in
December alone.
Russia has this year escalated its long-range attacks on urban areas of
Ukraine. In recent months, as Russia's invasion of its neighbor approaches its
four-year milestone in February, it has also intensified its targeting of
energy infrastructure, seeking to deny Ukrainians heat and running water in the
bitter winter months.
From January to November this year, more than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were
killed and more than 11,000 were injured, the United Nations said earlier this
month. That was 26% higher than in the same period in 2024 and 70% higher than
in 2023, it said.
Russia's sustained drone and missile attacks have taken place against
backdrop of renewed diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
at his Florida resort on Sunday and announced that a settlement is "closer than
ever before." The Ukrainian leader is due to hold talks next week with the
heads of European governments supporting his efforts to secure acceptable terms.
The ongoing attacks, meantime, are inflaming tensions.
The overnight Odesa strikes "are further evidence of the enemy's terror
tactics, which deliberately target civilian infrastructure," Kiper, the
regional head, said.
Russia insists Putin's residence was attacked
Moscow has alleged that Ukraine attempted to attack Russian President
Vladimir Putin's residence in northwestern Russia with 91 long-range drones
late Sunday and early Monday. Ukrainian officials deny the claim and say it's a
ruse to derail progress in the peace negotiations.
Maj. Gen. Alexander Romanenkov of the Russian air force claimed Wednesday
that the drones took off from Ukraine's Sumy and Chernihiv regions.
At a briefing where no questions were allowed, he presented a map showing
the drone flight routes before they were downed by Russian air defenses over
the Bryansk, Tver, Smolensk and Novgorod regions.
It was not possible to independently verify the reports.
The European Union's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, on Wednesday called
the Russian allegations "a deliberate distraction" from the peace talks.
"No one should accept unfounded claims from the aggressor who has
indiscriminately targeted Ukraine's infrastructure and civilians since the
start of the war," Kallas posted on X.
Ukraine weapons fund receives billions of dollars
Zelenskyy said Wednesday that Romania and Croatia are the latest countries
to join a fund that buys weapons for Ukraine from the United States. The
financial arrangement, known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or
PURL, pools contributions from NATO members, except the United States, to
purchase American weapons, munitions and equipment.
Since it was established in August, 24 countries are now contributing to the
fund, according to Zelenskyy. The fund has so far received $4.3 billion, with
almost $1.5 billion coming in December alone, he said on social media.
Ukraine's air force said Wednesday that Russia fired 127 drones at the
country during the night, with 101 of them intercepted by air defenses.
Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said that 86 Ukrainian drones were
shot down overnight over Russian regions, the Black Sea and the illegally
annexed Crimea peninsula.
The Ukrainian attack started a fire at an oil refinery in Russia's southern
Krasnodar region, but it was quickly put out, local authorities said.
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