On New Year's Day, a Ukrainian strike on a Russian facility in occupied far eastern Ukraine killed at least 63 Russian soldiers, according to multiple reports. The strike was carried out using the U.S.-supplied HIMARS rocket system, though Ukraine has not confirmed what weapons it used. In response, Russia launched a wave of drone strikes against civilian targets in and around Kyiv, which Ukraine claims they have shot down 39 of.
Since the attack, Ukrainian forces have recaptured several significant cities, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged American lawmakers to continue funding the war effort. Several prominent Russian military bloggers expressed outrage at military leaders over the attack, and Ukraine is warning that air raids on Kyiv could serve as a precursor for a barrage of Russian attacks on Orthodox Christmas Eve (January 6) and Christmas Day (January 7).
The situation in Ukraine remains tense and it is unclear what the long term repercussions of the New Year's Day attack will be. Both sides are continuing to battle for control of the country, and the Russian response to the Ukrainian attack is yet to be seen.