RFE reports that on Tuesday morning, air raid sirens echoed across Ukraine, warning of Russian airstrikes, as explosions were reported in parts of Kyiv.
Authorities issued alerts for multiple regions, including Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Luhansk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, and Vinnytsia.
Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, confirmed that drone debris fell in the city’s Darnytskyi district. However, he did not specify whether there were casualties. Meanwhile, in Sumy, regional authorities reported a Russian missile strike targeting infrastructure in Shostka, with investigations ongoing to determine the extent of damage or potential casualties.
These attacks come just a day after the United States announced additional military aid to Ukraine to bolster its defense along the front lines.
U.S. Steps Up Military Support
The Biden administration declared new assistance, including $1.25 billion from U.S. reserves and a $1.22 billion package under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). The aid, which includes advanced weaponry, underscores Washington’s commitment to Ukraine before President Biden’s term concludes next month.
In addition to military support, the U.S. Treasury announced $3.4 billion in direct budgetary aid to Ukraine.
However, uncertainty looms as President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20, has signaled a potential shift in U.S. policy. Trump is expected to curtail military aid and push Ukraine towards peace negotiations with Russia.
Escalation on the Frontlines
Amid ongoing U.S. support, Russia continues its offensive along the front lines. Moscow claimed on December 30 that its forces had captured Novotroitske, a strategic settlement in the Donetsk region. Russian forces also intensified efforts to seize Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub in southern Ukraine, which has been heavily damaged by weeks of fighting.
The Ukrainian military acknowledged 133 attacks on its positions, with many concentrated around Pokrovsk.
