On the morning of December 29, 2023, Russia initiated its largest series of bombings yet across several Ukrainian cities. 

Explosions were heard early on in Kyiv where the city’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, announced that the “anti-air defense is actively functioning”. Shortly afterwards, a nationwide air alert was activated. 

The attacks specifically targeted the capital, Kyiv, as well as the areas of Kharkiv in the Northeast, Lviv in the West, Dnipro in the East, and Odesa in the South. Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Iouri Ihnat stated that Russia had fired a “record number of missiles” for a single day.  

“Around 3:00 a.m., the enemy launched strategic aircraft into the air – Tu-95MS bombers,” the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said. “A total of 18 aircraft, which entered the launch line around 6:00 a.m. and launched at least 90 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 air-based cruise missiles.” 

The Ukrainian military claims to have destroyed 114 aerial targets out of 158 during the recent Russian attacks, including various types of missiles and strike drones. 

Meanwhile Russia insists that all designated targets were hit in its airstrikes on Ukraine between December 23 and 29. The Kremlin is said to have targeted military infrastructure, ammunition depots, and locations where Ukrainian soldiers and foreign mercenaries were deployed. 

According to Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, the Russian attacks caused at least 16 fatalities and 97 injuries, including two children aged 6 and 8. Rescue operations were still ongoing when this article was published. 

“All services are working around the clock and providing the necessary aid,” President Volodymyr Zelensky declared. “We will surely respond to terrorist strikes. And we will continue to fight for the security of our entire country, every city, and every citizen. Russian terror must and will lose.” 

International condemnation of Russia’s “strategy of terror” 

In the face of Russia’s unprecedented bombings in Ukraine, European leaders expressed resolute condemnations. 

“It was yet another cowardly and indiscriminate targeting of schools, a metro station and a hospital,” said Josep Borrell, the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, condemning Russia’s “cowardly” and “blind” attacks, before concluding: “The EU stands with Ukraine, as long as it takes.” 

Echoing these sentiments, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs also voiced its concern.  

“Russia is continuing its strategy of terror aimed at destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in order to undermine resilience. of the Ukrainian population in this second winter of the conflict,” the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. “France will continue to support Ukraine and provide it with the necessary assistance to enable it to exercise its self-defense.”