loud explosions heard in kyiv

“Ballistic missiles coming from the north” fell on kyiv. In Russia, five deserters died in a fire in their detention center in the Russian republic of Yakutia (Far East). Le Figaro takes stock of the latest events linked to the conflict.

Loud explosions heard in kyiv

No Christmas break. Strong explosions rang out in kyiv on Friday December 20 in the morning after a series of air alerts to ballistic missiles fired from Russia towards Ukrainian territory, noted an AFP journalist. “Ballistic missile coming from the north!“, warned the Ukrainian Air Force in a message on Telegram, almost three years after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a war which has already claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Thick smoke rose above the Ukrainian capital, kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported at least two injuries following the explosions, which occurred the day after Russian President Vladimir’s annual question-and-answer session. Putin, who rejected any truce.

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At least one dead in Kherson

Ukrainian authorities also reported missile attacks in the southern city of Kherson, where one person was killed and six injured, as well as several other towns and villages. Russian forces are advancing in the Kharkiv region, bordering Russia, with the aim of reconquering the city of Kupiansk, occupied during the first year of the war. The city was occupied by the Russian army at the start of its invasion in February 2022, then liberated by Ukrainian forces during a dazzling counter-offensive in September of the same year.

Koupiansk, an important railway junction in this sector, is crossed by the Oskil River, which has become the de facto front line between Russian and Ukrainian troops. The Russian army, which has been advancing more rapidly in recent months in eastern Ukraine, has increased its attacks in this area, which it has been trying to recapture for months, in particular trying to cross the river again.

Five Russian military deserters dead in fire

Five Russian soldiers who deserted from their units and were in a detention center in the Russian republic of Yakutia (Far East) died in a fire, the local military police station said on Friday. Seven other detainees were hospitalized after inhaling smoke in this fire which occurred in the detention center during the night from Thursday to Friday, the police station said on Telegram.

Investigators are working on site to define the causes of the fire and identify the dead, according to the same source. Russian media have regularly reported desertions in the Russian army since the launch of the Russian offensive against Ukraine on February 24, 2022.