Russian shelling leaves 70% of Kherson without electricity

Russian forces shelled the city of Kherson on December 26, causing severe damage to the city's energy infrastructure and leaving 70% of consumers without power, according to a statement from Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin on December 27. Emergency repairs are underway, but the completion timeline remains uncertain. Prokudin mentioned that efforts are being made to restore power as quickly as possible.

The recent attack on Kherson comes as part of an ongoing campaign by Russian forces against the city, even after Ukrainian forces liberated Kherson and other regional settlements on the western bank of the Dnipro River in November 2022. The conflict has witnessed intensified missile and drone campaigns targeting critical infrastructure, including energy facilities. Last year's campaign resulted in widespread power outages and casualties among civilians.

The targeting of energy infrastructure is part of broader military strategies aimed at disrupting essential services and causing economic strain on Ukraine. The international community continues to monitor and condemn such attacks, emphasizing the need for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Two killed, three injured in Russian overnight strike on Odesa

Overnight, Russia launched a drone attack on Odesa, resulting in two fatalities and three injuries, including a 17-year-old teenager, according to updated information from Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper. Air defenses in Odesa successfully downed 12 Shahed-type drones, but debris from one drone struck a house on the outskirts of Odesa, causing a fire.

One person died on the spot, and another individual succumbed to injuries after being hospitalized in critical condition. The 17-year-old teenager is currently hospitalized, while two other victims are receiving treatment at home. It was clarified that a six-year-old child reported as wounded earlier sustained injuries in a house fire unrelated to the drone attack.

The Southern Defense Forces reported that Russia launched a total of 46 kamikaze drones at Ukraine overnight, with 32 being successfully intercepted and shot down by air defenses. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by drone attacks, with Ukraine actively countering these unmanned aerial threats to protect its cities and civilians. The international community continues to closely monitor regional developments, urging a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Russian landmines have killed 277 Ukrainians, including 14 children

Ukraine's State Emergency Service has confirmed that 277 people, including 14 children, have been killed by Russian landmines and other explosive devices since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukrinform reported on Dec. 27.

Speaking at a media briefing, Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, a spokesperson for Ukraine's State Emergency Service, confirmed that another 608 people were injured, including 74 children, as a result of explosions caused by landmines.

Khorunzhyi also noted that military bomb squads have neutralized 464,000 explosive devices across Ukraine, including 3,145 unexploded aerial bombs. Demining has become constrained in recent weeks due to snow cover and cold temperatures.

Earlier this year, former Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed that Ukraine has become the world's most heavily mined nation in the world, with 750,000 hectares or about 30 percent of Ukraine's territory currently mined. Currently, most of the demining efforts are being conducted in the Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Kherson oblasts.

The concentration of mines in Russian-occupied regions has been a key factor in slowing Ukraine's counteroffensive, limiting territorial gains in the east and south.