Ukrainian authorities have announced an air alert across Ukraine
.
Ukrainska Pravda reports it.
The alert was declared due to the takeoff of Russian aircraft over the territory of Belarus.
This is evidenced, UNIAN reports, by the air warning map and data from the Belarusian Gayun monitoring group.
The takeoff of an A-50 in Machulyshchy and a fighter jet in Baranovichi was recorded.
Later, a Russian Air Force MiG-31K with the number RF-92215 was recorded taking off at Machulyshchy.
The MiG-31K can carry Dagger missiles.
"Our anti-aircraft defense cannot intercept these missiles, therefore, with each take-off, an air alert is announced throughout Ukraine," Kiev argues.
The Russian army bombed the eastern city of Kharkiv and the region this morning
, Mayor Igor Terekhov wrote on Telegram: "Kharkiv is under fire. I ask everyone to stay in shelters and observe precautionary measures", as reported by UNIAN .
Regional military chief Oleg Sinegubov urged not to ignore the alert.
At the moment there is no information on any victims and damages.
Meanwhile, the municipal administration of Kiev has launched an air raid alarm in the capital.
The southern region of Kherson has been attacked 50 times in the past 24 hours
, three civilians were injured, as reported by Ukrinform.
Yaroslav Yanushevych, head of the regional military administration wrote in Telegram: "Over the past day the Russian occupiers shelled the territory of the Kherson region 50 times with artillery, MLRS, mortars and tanks. Only the city of Kherson was hit 23 times. Enemy shells hit a hospital, a kindergarten, warehouses, private buildings and apartments".
Hundreds of civilians terrified by Russian bombing are fleeing
Kherson, queues of cars form at checkpoints leaving the metropolitan area.
The BBC writes it by publishing photos of the cars lined up on December 25, just on Christmas day 400 residents fled their city.
"Before, the Russians were bombing us seven to 10 times a day, now it's 70 to 80 times, all day long. It's too scary. I love Ukraine and my dear city. But we have to go," said a woman who left in family train.
The evacuation is facilitated by the Ukrainian government.
The Russian army left Kherson on November 11th.
The regional governor-in-exile reports that
the Russian command has left the city of Kreminna, Lugansk region
, where intense fighting is underway.
Russian civilians who were in the city also fled.
Sergii Gaidai said that the liberation of Kreminna will open the way for the Armed Forces of Ukraine to Starobilsk, or in the direction of Rubizhny and Severodonetsk.
According to Gaidai, the military leadership of the occupation army has moved to other occupied settlements and Russian civilians are returning to the territory of the Federation.
And according to the New York Times, the Ukrainian army is getting closer to liberating Kreminna
, a small but strategically important city since its liberation will open the way for the armed forces of Kiev to Severodonetsk and Lysychansk currently held by Russian troops.
"Kreminna is the gateway to two much larger cities nearby, Severodonetsk and Lysychansk, important industrial centers of Donbass. Taking Kreminna and other nearby settlements will expand the Ukrainian forces' foothold in the region and give them control over main roads leading to Severodonetsk and Lysychansk,” writes the US newspaper.
The number of Ukrainian civilians killed since the start of the Russian invasion is "considerably higher" than the 6,884 known so far
, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (Ohchr) said.
The Guardian reports it.
The tally of the number of civilian victims in Ukraine according to the UN indicates that the confirmed dead between February 24 and December 26 are 6,884, of which 429 are children.
But the agency points out that the actual figure is likely to be "considerably higher, as information from areas where there has been intense hostilities is delayed and many reports are still awaiting confirmation."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks Italy's side on anti-aircraft systems vital to defending Ukraine from Russian attacks
.
After a phone call with Giorgia Meloni, the Ukrainian leader reported that the prime minister had "informed" him that in Rome "the issue of supplying air defense systems to protect the Ukrainian skies is being evaluated".
From Palazzo Chigi, Meloni renewed the government's "full support" for Ukraine
in the political, economic, humanitarian and even military fields.
And
confirming her intention to go to Kiev with the arrival of the new year, the prime minister invited Zelensky to come and visit Rome
.
The Ukrainian president thanked Italy "for its solidarity and support" and praised "the allocation by the Italian government of an additional 10 million euros in aid".
To then discuss with Meloni the peace plan promoted by Kiev, with which Zelensky aims to organize a summit at the UN in February, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the war.
