Russian attack on Kherson railway station kills 1, injures 4
Russian Forces Target Civilians at Kherson Railway Station, Killing One
In a reprehensible act, Russian forces targeted a railway station in Kherson, Ukraine, late on December 26, resulting in the death of at least one person and injuring four others. Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported that approximately 140 individuals were awaiting evacuation from Kherson, which has been subjected to relentless shelling by Russian forces despite its liberation by Ukrainian forces in November 2022.
Among the casualties was a police lieutenant engaged in evacuating civilians, who tragically lost his life during the attack. Two additional police officers and two civilians sustained injuries from shrapnel. The victims were part of a group awaiting evacuation via a train from Kherson.
Since the liberation of Kherson and surrounding territories, Russia has persisted in targeting the city with a range of weaponry, including artillery, tanks, drones, and air bombs. Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia announced that plans for civilian evacuation are in place, with buses ready to transport individuals to Mykolaiv in the neighboring Mykolaiv Oblast once the situation stabilizes.
Despite efforts to ensure the safety of civilians, attacks on Kherson persist, with additional casualties reported in the nearby village of Mykilske. The toll on civilians since the city's liberation is devastating, with over 400 reported deaths and more than 1,700 injuries in and around Kherson, according to local authorities. The international community condemns these acts of aggression and calls for an immediate end to the violence against innocent civilians.
Destruction of Russian ship proves there's no stalemate in war
U.K. Defense Minister Grant Shapps asserted on December 26 that Ukraine's recent missile strike on a Russian ship in the Black Sea refutes claims of a stalemate in the ongoing conflict. The strike, which targeted the port town of Feodosia in occupied Crimea, resulted in the reported destruction of Russia's Novocherkassk ship.
Shapps emphasized that the destruction of a significant portion of Russia's Black Sea Fleet over the past four months, amounting to 20%, contradicts the notion of a stalemate. He highlighted the effectiveness of Ukraine's naval operations, particularly in the Black Sea, where Ukrainian forces have successfully targeted Russian ships, leading to what U.K. Armed Forces Minister James Heappey previously described as a "functional defeat" of Russia's naval forces in the region.
The U.K. Defense Minister affirmed that Ukraine's maritime capabilities, coupled with the support of the newly formed Maritime Capability Coalition led by the U.K. and Norway, challenge Russia's historical dominance in the Black Sea. The coalition aims to bolster Ukraine's maritime capabilities and contribute to its success at sea.
While the land offensive in eastern Ukraine faced challenges, Ukraine's ability to disrupt Russian naval operations in the Black Sea underscores its strategic effectiveness. Shapps' comments reinforce the dynamic nature of the conflict and the evolving landscape in different theaters of operation. Russia, in response to the missile strike, acknowledged damage to the Novocherkassk but disputed claims of its complete destruction. The situation emphasizes the fluidity of the conflict and the strategic importance of various fronts in the ongoing struggle between Ukraine and Russia.
Russian cruise missile shot down over Dnipropetrovsk Oblast
Ukrainian forces successfully intercepted a Russian Kh-59 cruise missile over the Kryvyi Rih district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on December 25, according to a statement from Ukraine's Operational Command East. The Ukrainian Air Force detected the cruise missile flying in the direction of Kryvyi Rih at 3:39 p.m. local time, prompting the sounding of air raid sirens in the oblast. Within seven minutes, the missile was reportedly shot down.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak later confirmed the successful interception of the missile over the Kryvyi Rih district via Telegram. Additionally, Ukraine's Air Force reported the successful interception of 28 out of 31 Shahed-type drones and two missiles launched by Russian forces overnight on December 25. The Southern Defense Forces also reported the destruction of a Kh-59 missile and a Kh-31P anti-radar missile launched by Russian forces during the overnight attacks.
The interception of the Russian cruise missile demonstrates Ukraine's air defense capabilities and its ability to counteract aerial threats. The ongoing conflict continues to witness technological advancements and strategic developments on both sides, highlighting the dynamic and evolving nature of the conflict in different theaters of operation.