Report: Russia, Ukraine trade dozens of attacks as sea drone downs Mi-8 helicopter

Russia launched a heavy aerial attack on Ukraine hitting the capital, Kyiv, and other regions with a volley of missiles and drones.

Ukraine’s air force said on Tuesday it downed six out of 21 Russia-launched missiles overnight. Russia used 40 drones to attack the country, the air force said on Telegram. Air defence units shot down 16 and 24 more failed to reach targets.

Ukraine’s air force reported a ballistic missile threat at 3am (01:00 GMT) with at least two explosions heard in Kyiv minutes later amid a number of attacks throughout the country.

Another missile alert in Kyiv was issued at 8am (06:00 GMT), followed by at least one explosion in the city. Missile debris fell in the Darnytskyi district of the capital, with no reports of casualties or damage.

Meanwhile, authorities in the northeastern Sumy region reported attacks near the city of Shostka, where Mayor Mykola Noha said 12 residential buildings were damaged as well as two educational facilities.

Noha said some “social infrastructure objects” were destroyed, without providing more details. Ukraine’s air force also reported missiles and drones targeted several other regions.

Russian forces advanced by 3,985sq km (1,539sq miles) in Ukraine in 2024, seven times more than in 2023, according to an analysis of data from the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The advance up to December 30 was boosted by an uptick in Russian troop movements in the autumn, advancing 610sq km (235 sq miles) in October and 725sq km (280 sq miles) in November.

November and October were also the two months when they conquered the most territory since March 2022, the early weeks of the conflict.