Several missiles fired at Kiev - air alerts triggered across the entire country
Shortly beforehand, the air force had already triggered air alerts across the entire country. "A total of 16 Tu-95MS strategic bombers are in the air. Do not ignore the air alert! Go to the shelters," explained the air force on the online service Telegram.
Explosions had already been heard in Kiev in the early morning. According to the city administration, the army tried to fend off a Russian drone attack at around 2.00 a.m. local time. "The debris of a drone is burning in an open area in the Desnyansky district," explained Kiev's mayor Vitali Klitschko. He added that rescue workers were on the scene.
The mayor of Mykolaiv in the south of the country said that the Ukrainian air force had shot down drones whose debris had caused a fire. The Ukrainian air force claimed to have fended off a total of 35 Iranian-made Shahed drones during the night.
On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his intention to step up attacks on military targets in Ukraine in response to Kiev's attack on the Russian city of Belgorod. In the attack on Belgorod on Saturday, 25 people were killed, including five children.
The Ukrainian air force reported attacks by a "record number" of Russian combat drones on New Year's Day.
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- The air force's warning was promptly heeded, as several people rushed to their designated shelters upon hearing the air alarm.
- The morning air was filled with a strange hum, presumably caused by the 16 Tu-95MS strategic bombers that were circling the country, as per the air force's declaration.
- The air alarms continued to sound, triggering a sense of unease among the inhabitants of Kiev, as they waited for any further developments.
- The sight of a drone's debris burning in an open area was a grim reminder of the ongoing conflict, further intensifying the air alarm that was still echoing throughout the city.
- In response to the air alarm, the Ukrainian air force retaliated, firing missiles at the drones that were hovering menacingly over the city.
- The air alarm forced many businesses to close, causing a ripple effect that affected the daily routines of the city's inhabitants.
- Despite the air alarm and the ensuing chaos, life in Kiev continued, with people going about their business, albeit with a heightened sense of vigilance.
- The air alarm served as a stark reminder of the volatile situation in Kiev, with tensions still high between the Ukrainian and Russian forces, and the threat of further attacks looming large.
Source: www.stern.de
