Ukraine reported that nine individuals, including four children, sustained injuries from Russian shelling in the southern city of Kherson. Simultaneously, drones targeted the capital, Kyiv, and the second-largest city, Kharkiv. Roman Mrochko, Kherson’s head, disclosed that during the evening shelling by Russian forces, nine people, aged between two and 13, were injured, with a mother and her three children hospitalized for moderate conditions, including contusions and explosive injuries.
Ukrainian air defenses successfully downed several Iranian-made Shahed drones approaching Kyiv, as confirmed by Serhii Popko, head of the capital’s military administration. Despite the fifth attack on Kyiv in December, preliminary data indicated no casualties or damage in the capital. Meanwhile, Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov reported at least two strikes near residential areas in his city. The Ukraine Air Force stated that Kharkiv was targeted with “two S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles” from Russia’s Belgorod region, with no reported casualties.
The Ukraine Air Force reported a total of 19 Shahed launches, with 18 destroyed across various regions. Moscow has intensified nightly attacks on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, coinciding with diminishing Western support for the country. On December 19, leaders of both U.S. political parties indicated that Washington would not be able to approve new aid for Ukraine before the year’s end, as negotiations for a compromise continued.
