KHARKIV, Ukraine: Russia launched a fresh bombardment on Ukrainian regions in the hours leading into New Year鈥檚 Eve, Ukrainian officials said, targeting Kyiv and inflicting damage on residential areas of the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Ukraine鈥檚 air defense systems in the region surrounding Kyiv were engaged late on Saturday in repelling Russia鈥檚 drone attack, the military administration of the region said on their Telegram messaging channel.
The scale or potential damage of the attack was not immediately clear.
In Kharkiv, Ukraine鈥檚 second-largest city where twin Russian missile strikes on Saturday injured at least 21 people, a fresh drone attack that came in several waves hit residential buildings in the city center, spouting fires, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram.
鈥淎ll relevant emergency services are already on the site,鈥� Terekhov said in a message at 1:40 a.m. local time. 鈥淚nformation about potential casualties is being clarified.鈥�
The last week of 2023 has seen increased attacks by both sides, with Russia killing at least 31 civilians in its biggest air assault of war on Ukraine on Friday, and 20 people killed in result of Ukraine鈥檚 attack on the Russian provincial capital of Belgorod on Saturday.