Eleven people were killed Saturday in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk province, according to regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin. Five children were among the dead and eight further people were wounded in the attack on the Pokrovsk district, he said.
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asualties in Donetsk: Eleven people, including five children, were killed in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s Donetsk province, as reported by regional Governor Vadym Filashkin. Additionally, eight people were wounded in the attack on the Pokrovsk district.
Ukrainian Attack on Crimean Airbase: Ukraine’s military claimed a successful attack on the Saki military airbase in Russian-occupied Crimea. Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk announced the hits on Telegram, accompanied by a photo of the airfield, though its authenticity couldn’t be immediately verified.
Russia’s Response: Russian officials did not directly comment on the alleged airbase attack. However, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported the downing of four Ukrainian missiles over Crimea and later claimed to have shot down six anti-ship missiles over the Black Sea.
Bridge Traffic Suspension: Traffic on the bridge connecting Crimea to Russia’s Krasnodar region was suspended for the third consecutive day. This bridge is a vital supply route for Russia’s military operations.
Incident in Belgorod: Local officials in Belgorod, Russia, reported shooting down an “air target” near the city. Previous Ukrainian attacks in this area have caused casualties and continued throughout the week.
Impact on Orthodox Christmas Celebrations: Due to the ongoing conflict, Christmas Eve masses in Belgorod were canceled, as announced by mayor Valentin Demidov, citing the operational situation.
The Associated Press has the story:
Russian shelling kills 11 in Donetsk. Ukraine claims it hit a Crimean air base
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) —
Eleven people were killed Saturday in Russian shelling in Ukraine’s partially occupied Donetsk province, according to regional Gov. Vadym Filashkin. Five children were among the dead and eight further people were wounded in the attack on the Pokrovsk district, he said.
Ukraine’s military claimed Saturday 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 appearing to show the airfield, though it was not immediately possible to 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. Later on Saturday, the ministry reported that its air defense forces had shot down six anti-ship missiles over the Black Sea.
Traffic was temporarily suspended for a third straight day on a bridge connecting the peninsula, which Moscow seized illegally in 2014, with Russia’s southern Krasnodar region. The span is a crucial supply link for Russia’s war effort.
In Russia, local officials in Belgorod — some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the border with Ukraine — said that an “air target” was shot down on approach to the city. Ukrainian attacks on Dec. 30 in Belgorod killed 25 people, officials there said, with rocket and drone attacks continuing throughout this week.
As Russians prepared to celebrate Orthodox Christmas, Christmas Eve masses in Belgorod were canceled due to the “operational situation,” mayor Valentin Demidov said.
