Ukraine: Deadly shelling in Donetsk and Kherson, Christmas celebrations on front, Kyiv hits Crimea

Deaths in Kherson while soldiers celebrate Orthodox Christmas

The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson has been subjected to numerous shelling attacks from Russian-occupied parts of the region, according to local officials. 

The head of the Kherson city administration, Roman Mrochko, said two people died in the attacks and several others were wounded.

Meanwhile, Russian military personnel marked Orthodox Christmas on Sunday. 

Russia’s Defense Ministry said military priests led prayer services on the front line both on Sunday and on Christmas Eve night.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who died in the war in Ukraine at Christmas Eve services at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence, in the western suburbs of Moscow.

“Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, are warriors of Russia even now, during the holiday — with arms in hand, they defend the interests of our country,” he said to the attending families, according to the Kremlin’s press service.

Japan reaffirms support of Ukraine

On an unannounced visit to the country this weekend, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa pledged Japan’s continued support for Ukraine. 

Speaking at a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Sunday, she said that Japan had decided to “contribute $37 million (€33.8m) to the NATO trust fund to provide drone detection systems,” according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

Zelenskyy vows revenge after Donetsk attack

At least 11 people were killed in Russian shelling in Donetsk on Saturday, according to regional governor Vadym Filashkin. 

Five children were among the dead and eight further people were wounded in the attack on the eastern Ukraine region, partially occupied by Russia. 

Emergency services believe the number of victims could increase as around six more people appear to be under the rubble of one destroyed building.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said that Russia must feel the consequences of every such attack, adding “that no such strike will go without consequences.”

Shelling hit the town of Pokrovsk, some 50 km from the frontline. 

Before the war, it had a population of 60,000. Nine people were killed and 82 injured in August in Russian shelling. 

Crimean air base hit

Ukraine’s military claimed it successfully attacked the Saki military airbase in the west of the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula.

“Saki airfield! All targets were hit!” Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram. 

He also published a photo purporting to show the airfield, though Euronews could not immediately verify the image.

Russian officials did not comment on the alleged attack, but Russia’s Defense Ministry said in the early hours of Saturday that it had successfully downed four Ukrainian missiles over the peninsula overnight. 

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Later on Saturday, the ministry reported its air defence forces had shot down six Ukrainian anti-ship missiles over the Black Sea.

North Korean-made missiles allegedly used in Ukraine

Ukrainian officials claimed on Saturday they have evidence, which shows Moscow fired North Korean-supplied missiles on Kharkiv earlier this week.

The eastern region’s prosecutor’s office said a missile which hit central Kharkiv on 2 January appears to be made in North Korea.

Investigators who examined parts of the missile concluded the rocket was visually and technically different from Russian models.

On Thursday, the White House said US intelligence officials determined that Russia has acquired ballistic missiles from North Korea and is seeking close-range ballistic missiles from Iran as Moscow struggles to replenish arms for its military campaign with Ukraine.

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A Euronews report in September explored what Moscow and Pyongyang need from one another, ranging from food to advanced weapons. Read more on this story below.