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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Kyiv strikes Russian skyscrapers in major drone attack 1,000km from frontline

Putin says he is open to talks with Donald Trump, saying ‘we will have things to discuss’

Tom Watling ,Stuti Mishra
Sunday 22 December 2024 10:12 GMT
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Zelensky says Ukraine could temporarily cede territory in exchange for Nato membership

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The Russian city of Kazan suffered a major drone attack from Ukrainian forces on Saturday, despite being 1,000km (620 miles) from the frontline

Residential buildings were damaged and the airport was temporarily shut down, after the drone smashed into a high-rise building and damaged a skyscraper.

Videos posted on Russian social media networks showed the damage and a fireball emerging from the building, while local authorities said there were no casualties.

Ukraine’s air defences downed 52 of the 103 Russian drones launched overnight, the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. The military said on Telegram that it had lost track of 44 drones, and another had left the territory of Ukraine to Belarus.

Meanwhile, Putin’s forces have captured the village of Kostiantynopolske in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, just six miles from the city of Kurakhove, which they have stormed and are threatening to encircle.

Earlier this week, Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he should have invaded Ukraine earlier as he used an end-of-year press conference to double down on his decision to start the war.

Two Russian airports temporarily halt operations

Two Russian airports have temporarily halted operations following a Ukrainian drone attack, Russia’s aviation watchdog said.

Kazan airport has temporarily halted flight arrivals and departures, Russia’s aviation watchdog Rosaviatsia said via the Telegram messaging app on Saturday, following a Ukrainian drone attack on the city.

Russian state news agencies reported the drone attack on a residential complex in Kazan, a city some 500 miles east of Moscow. The TASS agency said eight drone strikes had been recorded including six on residential structures.

There were no casualties reported, agencies said, citing local authorities.

The Baza Telegram channel, which is close to Russia’s security services, published unverified video footage showing an aerial object crashing into a high-rise building, producing a large fireball.

Rosaviatsia said it was also introducing temporary restrictions at the airport in Izhevsk, a smaller city northeast of Kazan.

Athena Stavrou21 December 2024 08:03

Ukrainian missile attack disrupts gas network in Russia

Ukraine’s missile attack in Kursk has disrupted heating and gas networks, region’s governor Alexander Khinshtein wrote on Telegram.

The attack that killed six people, including a child, also disrupted the work under way to restore supplies to more than 80 residences.

Mr Khinshtein accused Kyiv of deliberating targeting civilians in the strike.

Stuti Mishra21 December 2024 07:30

Russia and Ukraine exchange missile attacks, officials say, killing at least 1 person in Kyiv

Russia and Ukraine exchange missile attacks, officials say, killing at least 1 person in Kyiv

Ukrainian officials say Russia has launched several ballistic missiles at Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, killing at least one person and injuring nine others

Tom Watling21 December 2024 07:00

Russia vows 'quick' retribution after Ukraine attack

Russia’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said Moscow would be quick to respond to the Ukrainian attack that killed six, including a child.

“As you can well understand, our response to this targeted crime against peaceful Russian citizens will not be long in coming,” he told the UN security session.

Stuti Mishra21 December 2024 06:30

What will it cost to defend Britain from a growing Russian threat?

What will it cost to defend Britain from a growing Russian threat?

Britain can hardly afford to spend more on defending itself from Vladimir Putin but, says Sean O’Grady, it may have little practical choice

Tom Watling21 December 2024 06:00

Six killed in Russia, including one child, in a Ukrainian missile attack

Six people, including one child, were killed on Friday in a Ukrainian missile attack on the town of Rylsk in Russia’s Kursk region, the acting governor, Alexander Khinshtein, said.

Ten wounded people, including a 13-year-old, were taken to hospital with minor injuries, Khinshtein wrote on Telegram.

“What happened today is a huge tragedy for all of us,” he said. “We grieve together with the families of the victims. No one will be left without support.”

Those responsible would receive “well-deserved retribution”, he said.

Ukrainian authorities have not commented on the incident.

Khinshtein said Ukraine had fired US-supplied HIMARS rockets, damaging several buildings including a school, recreation centre and private residences in Rylsk, some 16 miles (26km) from the border with Ukraine‘s Sumy region.

Stuti Mishra21 December 2024 05:30

Ukraine’s scooter bomb killing could alter the course of the war

Ukraine’s scooter bomb killing could alter the course of the war

The audacious killing of Putin’s chemical weapons chief by Ukraine’s special forces – in the heart of Moscow – is a blow to the president’s personal prestige, designed to alter the roadmap to peace talks, says Mark Almond

Tom Watling21 December 2024 05:00

Russian forces edge closer to key Ukrainian city

Russian forces edge closer to key Ukrainian city as Putin faces ‘massive cost’

Russian forces are just miles away from the key eastern city

Tom Watling21 December 2024 04:00

The one battle President Zelensky looks set to win

The one battle President Zelensky looks set to win

For all of Russia’s recent setbacks, it is increasingly unlikely Ukraine will be able to push back invading forces to the border positions when hostilities first broke out – but it may yet force Vladimir Putin into a negotiated peace that would ensure greater security for Europe

Tom Watling21 December 2024 03:00

Russian opposition figure says fears of his mother's poisoning in Berlin proved false

Russian opposition figure says fears of his mother's poisoning in Berlin proved false

A prominent Russian opposition politician freed as part of the largest East-West civilian prisoner swap since the Cold War says that fears of his mother’s poisoning in Berlin have proven false

Tom Watling21 December 2024 02:00

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