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The military airfield Belbek in 2016
Photo: Vladimir Smirnov / ITAR-TASS / IMAGO
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Explosions in Crimea – governor speaks of repelled drones
9.12 a.m .:
According to official information, the Russian air defense repelled a drone attack on the Crimean Peninsula, which has been annexed by Moscow since 2014.
"Air defense systems shot down two unmanned aerial vehicles over the sea near Belbek in the morning," Sevastopol Governor Mikhail Rasvozhayev said on his Telegram channel.
Belbek is a Russian military airfield that was repeatedly attacked by the Ukrainian army after the start of the war.
According to Razvozhayev, all systems are working normally.
There is no official information about damage, deaths or injuries.
The media and residents had previously reported on social networks about explosion noises from the direction of Belbek Airport.
Russia supplies its occupying forces in southern Ukraine primarily via Crimea, which has been occupied since 2014.
Ukraine is therefore repeatedly targeting logistical and military targets on the peninsula.
The recovery of Crimea is also one of Kiev's declared goals.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that this could be done through diplomatic or military channels.
Caritas expects more refugees from Ukraine
7.35 a.m .:
The Catholic aid organization Caritas International expects more people to flee in the Ukraine war.
"If infrastructure continues to be destroyed and temperatures drop, people in some areas will have no choice but to leave," Ukraine team boss Gernot Krauss told the German Press Agency.
"We expect there will be another wave."
According to the UN refugee agency, almost eight million Ukrainians are living as refugees in European countries.
More than 6.5 million are displaced people in their own country.
According to Krauss, there are many older women among those left behind.
In Ukraine, Caritas takes care of the distribution of food and drinking water, among other things.
The aid organization gives the needy money cards worth the equivalent of 56 euros a month.
According to Krauss, Russia's attacks on the infrastructure are a problem.
"If there's no electricity, cash cards don't work either." In addition, there is a one-time winter aid of the equivalent of 560 euros for the needy.
"This is used for windows, roof repairs, heating material or winter clothing."
Moscow admits higher number of victims in Makiivka
5 a.m.:
On New Year's Eve, Russian soldiers used their mobile phones - and made themselves the target of a deadly Ukrainian rocket attack: The Kremlin has now had to admit that.
Read the most important developments from the night here.
kko/AFP/dpa/Reuters