Russia attacks Ukraine on New Year's Eve: teenager killed in Odesa, child wounded in Donetsk region

On New Year's Eve 2024, the Russians launched a record number of Shahed attack UAVs against Ukraine. The drones attacked Odesa, killing a 15-year-old teenager and injuring 8 others. A hit by a UAV was recorded in Dnipro, and air defense was operating in Kyiv region

Russia attacks Odesa with drones

Around midnight, the Russians deliberately sent some of the drones to residential areas of Odesa's residential districts and suburbs, where people were gathering in their homes to celebrate the New Year with their families.

According to the Regional Military Administration, at least 3 high-rise apartment buildings, 3 private houses, and outbuildings were damaged as a result of the downed UAVs. 

"One person was killed, there are wounded among the residents of the damaged buildings, their number is being clarified," wrote Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional Military Administration.

As of the morning of January 1, it was reported that 9 people were injured in the city due to the Russian attack. A 15-year-old teenager was killed. Three people were hospitalized with injuries and burns, and four others received medical care on the spot. 

 

A fire also broke out in one of the port terminals, which was quickly extinguished. No people were injured. 

Drone debris damages university and museum in Lviv region 

On the night of January 1, air defense and mobile fire teams worked in Lviv region, and falling debris caused fires and destruction.

In the suburb of Lviv, Dubliany, a building housing the Faculty of Land Management and Tourism of the Lviv National University of Environmental Management was damaged.

"600 square meters of the roof were destroyed. There was a fire that was quickly extinguished. No one was injured during these events," Vitaliy Turovtsev, spokesman for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Lviv region, told Espreso.

 

The falling wreckage of the downed drone also set fire to the museum of UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) General Roman Shukhevych in the village of Bilohorscha. The building was completely destroyed.

The damage amounted to UAH 2 million 258 thousand. According to the head of the Lviv Region Military Administration, Maksym Kozytskyi, this includes only the cost of the building. Losses due to lost property are still being calculated.

 

Situation in Dnipropetrovs'k region 

In Dnipro, Russia's UAV hit one of the enterprises. A fire broke out there. Firefighters extinguished the fire within an hour.

In addition, 1500 families in the Pyatikhatky community of the Kamianske district remained without electricity due to a drone that hit a power line. Experts quickly arrived at the scene and have already restored power to the homes.

 

Ukrainian Air Defense Forces destroy 87 out of 90 "shaheds" 

The Ukrainian Air Force reports that Russia launched drones in waves from four directions: Cape Chauda, Balaklava in Crimea, Kursk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia.

In addition to the fact that the Russians launched 90 Shahed-136/131 drones, the invaders struck with four S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles in Kharkiv region, three Kh-31P anti-radar missiles and one Kh-59 from the occupied areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

On New Year's Eve, the defenders of the sky managed to destroy a record number of hostile attack UAVs - 87 out of 90 "Shaheds". The air attack was fought off by mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces, fighter aircraft and anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force.