The Military Administration of Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, announced on Tuesday that air defense systems engaged in repelling a Russian missile attack on the city, following a drone strike carried out by Russia a few hours earlier.
The Ukrainian army has raised its alert status across the country, at a time when the Ukrainian Air Forces warned of threats of cruise missile launches, pointing out the presence of about 16 "Tu-95" strategic bombers in the air.
In Mykolaiv, southern Ukraine, the Air Forces downed drones, leading to debris that caused a fire, as reported by the city's mayor.
The Ukrainian Air Forces announced that their territory was hit by Russian drone attacks on the eve of New Year's 2024, with 90 drones involved and 87 of them being destroyed.
The Russian President Vladimir Putin pledged on Monday to "intensify" Russian strikes in Ukraine, in response to an unprecedented bombardment carried out by the Ukrainian army on the Russian city of Belgorod last Saturday, which left 25 people dead, including 5 children.
In his New Year's address, the Russian President praised Russian soldiers and described them as heroes. In contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to "destroy" the Russian forces that have been waging a two-year war against his country.
Ukraine regularly carries out strikes in Russia, especially in regions adjoining its borders, though its casualty toll is often far less.
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, with Moscow stipulating the end of the operation on Kyiv's "abandonment" of plans to join military entities, which Ukraine considers a "violation" of its sovereignty.
