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December 29, 2023 - Russia launches largest air attack on Ukraine since full-scale invasion
By Adrienne Vogt, Aditi Sangal, Matt Meyer and Tori B. Powell, CNN
Updated 9:01 p.m. ET, December 29, 2023
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Russia launches biggest air attack on Ukraine since invasion. Here's what you should know
From CNN staff
Russia launched the biggest air attack on Ukraine since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian military told CNN.
An unprecedented number of drones and missiles fired at targets across the country, killing at least 31 people and injuring more than 150 others.
Here's what you should know:
- The victims: Viktor Kobzystyi, one of Ukraine's most celebrated basketball players who then became a coach, along with coach Anton Nikulin were killed in the Russian missile attacks early Friday, Ukrainian officials said. A 53-year-old primary school teacher was also among those killed in Zaporizhzhia on Friday, following Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine earlier today, local authorities said.
- Where it happened: The attack targeted Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, as well as Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa, Kharkiv, Khmelnytskyi and other Ukrainian regions, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said. A shopping center, apartment buildings and a metro station were among the places hit, the ministry noted. Video from Dnipro shows extensive damage to a maternity hospital after a Russian missile strike early Friday.
- The weapons: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia used “nearly every type of weapon in its arsenal” in the massive wave of missile and drone attacks. Preliminary information indicates Russia used about 158 weapons. Zelensky said on Telegram that Russia used "'Kinzhals,' S-300s, cruise missiles, and drones. Strategic bombers launched X-101/X-505 missiles.”
- Reactions: Zelensky on Friday urged the international community to respond to Russia's latest aerial assault. Additionally, Ukraine called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting following the attack. European officials on Friday — including the president of the European Commission, the UK Prime Minister and others — vowed to stand with Ukraine for the long run. And, US President Joe Biden said Russia’s latest aerial assault on Ukraine serves as a reminder of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions in the country. Bridget Brink, US ambassador to Ukraine, called for more funding for Kyiv and the UK is sending "hundreds of air defense missiles" to Ukraine, British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said Friday.
- An unidentified object in Poland's skies: In the early hours of Friday, “an unidentified airborne object” entered Polish airspace from Ukrainian territory, the Polish military said. Poland’s most senior military officer said that "all indications" point to the object being a Russian missile. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Federation, Andrei Ordash, on Friday, the Polish foreign ministry said in a statement.
- More strikes: Without referring directly to the strikes early Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said the Russian forces carried out 50 group strikes and one mass strike this week.
- Other headlines to know: Zelensky made a surprise visit to troops fighting in one of the most fiercely contested parts of the eastern Donetsk region: the ruined city of Avdiivka. A year after Zelensky secured bipartisan support from the United States for its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion, the outlook looks much more grim. A long-anticipated Ukrainian offensive in the south has made scant progress. Russia appears to have weathered international sanctions, for now, and has converted its economy into a war machine.
Russian air defense intercepts 13 missiles over Belgorod region in attack that left 1 dead, governor says
From CNN’s Mariya Knight
Russia’s Ministry of Defense said on Friday that its air defense forces destroyed 13 Ukrainian missiles over Russia's Belgorod region.
The attack was carried out using Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), the ministry said.
Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod region, said one person was killed and four wounded in the attack and “several air targets were shot down.”
Numerous private houses, cars and the city's water supply system were damaged, according to Gladkov.
Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Russia’s Bryansk region, reported on Friday that air defense forces intercepted nine Ukrainian drones over his region, adding that “an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft complex was shot down over the Starodubsky municipal district.”
Bogomaz said there were no casualties or damage following the incident.
Poland summons Russian charge d'affaires over airspace incident
From Svitlana Vlasova, CNN's Chris Liakos and Mariya Knight
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Władysław Teofil Bartoszewski summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Russian Federation, Andrei Ordash, on Friday, following "an unidentified airborne object" entering Polish airspace early Friday morning, the Polish foreign ministry said in a statement.
According to the statement, Ordash was handed a note requesting an explanation for the violation of Polish airspace, which the ministry said was a Russian missile. Ordash said the note "contained only unfounded accusations,” adding that “the Polish side refused to provide evidence that the missile was of Russian origin,” according to Russian state media RIA Novosti.
Ordash went on to say that Russia “will not give explanations” concerning the incident “until concrete evidence is presented."
This post was updated with comments from the Russian chargé d’affaires.
Teacher among those killed in Russia's assault on Ukraine, according to education officials
From Svitlana Vlasova
A 53-year-old primary school teacher was among those killed in Zaporizhzhia on Friday, following Russia's large-scale attack on Ukraine earlier today, local authorities said.
Education Minister Oksen Lisovyi offered condolences to the teacher's family and friends in a Facebook post, calling it "a tragedy for the entire educational family."
"There are no words to express our condolences over the unexpected and tragic death of a woman, a teacher with a capital T, who, through her actions and deeds, her mind, raised many generations of students, skilfully taught them wisdom and responsibility," the school where the teacher, Oksana Vorobyova, taught in Zaporizhzhia said in a post on Facebook, describing her as "wise, balanced, sensitive, kind," who "never forgot about the problems of those around her."
"She was a very energetic person, a great hard worker, and a loving mother. It is with pain in our hearts that we acknowledge that we will never again receive her support or benefit from her wise advice," her colleagues said in the post.
Zelensky urges world to respond to "latest act of terror" from Russia
From Svitlana Vlasova
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday urged the international community to respond to Russia's latest aerial assault on Ukraine — the biggest since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
"It is important that the world responds to this latest act of terror. Many leaders have already expressed their support for Ukraine and Ukrainians today, and I am grateful to everyone," Zelensky said in his daily address, thanking those who helped in boosting his country's air defenses.
Ukraine on Friday called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting.
Zelensky added that he will continue to "strengthen our air defense" and vowed to keep working to "bring the war" back to Russia.
The Ukrainian president also thanked emergency services and staff who assisted in rescue operations following the aerial attacks in many parts of the country Friday.
The attacks left at least 31 people dead and over 150 injured, damaging civilian infrastructure.
"More than 100 private houses were destroyed or damaged, (as well as) 45 high-rise buildings, schools, two churches, hospitals, a maternity hospital, many commercial and warehouse premises," Zelensky said, offering his condolences to the families and friends of the victims.
Ukraine calls for urgent UN Security Council meeting following Russia's air attack
From Svitlana Vlasova
Ukraine has called for an urgent United Nations Security Council meeting following Russia’s biggest air attack on the country since the beginning of its full-scale invasion, according to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
"Ukraine, along with three dozen UN Member States, requested that the Ecuadorian Presidency convene an urgent UNSC meeting to address Russia’s missile and drone attack against Ukraine, which resulted in multiple civilian casualties and heavy destruction of civilian infrastructure," Kuleba wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Friday.
The presidency of the UN Security Council rotates on a monthly basis, and Ecuador holds the responsibility for December.
Analysis: Ukraine faces a grim 2024 as Western support wanes and Putin’s relentless war machine grinds on
Analysis from CNN's Tim Lister
A year after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky secured bipartisan support from the United States for its defense against Russia's full-scale invasion, the outlook looks much more grim. A long-anticipated Ukrainian offensive in the south has made scant progress. Russia appears to have weathered international sanctions, for now, and has converted its economy into a war machine.
The mood in Moscow seems grimly determined: The goals of the “special military operation” will be achieved, and the fighting will continue until that happens.
As the long front line becomes ever more calcified, the Kremlin senses greater skepticism among Kyiv’s Western backers that Ukraine can recover the 17% of its territory still occupied by Russian forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is relishing the much more partisan atmosphere in Washington, where many in the Republican Party are questioning the purpose of sending Ukraine another $61 billion worth of aid as requested by President Joe Biden's administration, assessing that it will achieve little on the battlefield.
At his first year-end news conference since the conflict began, Putin scoffed: “Ukraine produces almost nothing today, everything is coming from the West, but the free stuff is going to run out some day, and it seems it already is.”
Zelensky — who, by his own recent admission, is tired — has an ever-harder job as Ukraine’s chief salesman, with events in the Middle East diverting attention from Ukraine as the number-one international crisis.
On the first anniversary of the invasion, he predicted that “2023 will be the year of our victory!” He’s unlikely to make the same optimistic forecast for the coming year.
Read the full analysis here.
"All indications" are that Russian missile flew over Poland, senior Polish military official says
From CNN's Antonia Mortensen
Poland’s most senior military officer said that "all indications" point to the airborne object that flew through Polish airspace on Friday being a Russian missile.
According to the chief of the General Staff, Gen. Wiesław Kukuła, radar indicates that a Russian missile entered and then left Polish airspace, the official Polish news agency PAP said.
"It was tracked by us on radar and also left the airspace. We have radar and allied confirmation of this," said Kukula.
"Polish airspace was violated by an object detected by our systems. I want to assure you of good coordination and cooperation; both Polish and our allies’ systems were activated," according to the head of the Ministry of National Defense, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz.
The extensive Russian attacks on Ukraine – some of which were aimed at locations close to the border with Poland — had not been a surprise, said Gen. Maciej Klisz, the operational commander of the Polish Armed Forces. "We had both national and allied planes in the air. Therefore, the entire development of the situation was monitored by the operational command since late at night yesterday."
Remember: In November 2022, a “Russian-made” missile struck NATO member Poland, killing two people. The missile landed outside the rural Polish village of Przewodow, close to the Ukrainian border.