Russian President Vladimir Putin announced yesterday that his country “will never back down,” stressing that no force can divide the united Russian people, while the Russian army launched harsh attacks on Ukrainian sites, in response to the latter’s bombing of the city of Belgorod the previous day.
Although Putin did not explicitly refer to the war in Ukraine, which has been ongoing for nearly two years, he alluded to it several times, offering, for example, a salute to the soldiers, “our heroes,” who are fighting for “truth and justice.” Putin announced that 2024 will be the “Year of the Family,” and stressed that Russia, which is experiencing an unprecedented stage, will be stronger next year.
Putin, who appears relieved by the failure of the Ukrainian counterattack and the hesitation of Kiev’s allies regarding the cost of their aid, has shown more confidence in recent months and promised his citizens victory in Ukraine.
The broadcast of the speech comes a day after the bombing of the center of the Russian border city of Belgorod on Saturday, killing 24 people, including three children. Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said: “108 other people were injured, which makes the attack one of the largest attacks on Russian territory since the start of the war.” 22 months ago.
Belgorod’s revenge
Russia launched a new drone attack on Ukrainian regions at dawn yesterday, after threatening that the strikes that recently targeted the border city of Belgorod “will not go unpunished.”
The Russian Ministry of Defense said that it bombed “decision-making centers and military facilities” in Kharkiv, and stated that its raid on the Kharkiv Palace Hotel “eliminated representatives of the Main Intelligence Directorate, the Ukrainian Armed Forces” and “mercenaries” who participated in the attack on Belgorod.
The Russian “Defense” said: The ammunition used in the attack was Czech-made “Vampire” missiles, as well as “Ulka” missiles equipped with warheads containing cluster munitions.
21 march
The Ukrainian Air Force said that it shot down twenty-one out of forty-nine drones launched by Russian forces on Saturday night, and the head of the Ukrainian military administration for the Kharkiv region, Oleh Sinyhopov, said that 28 people were injured in the attack on the city.
In the Kiev region surrounding the capital, an attack by a Russian drone caused a fire in a vital facility linked to infrastructure, and the governor of the Ukrainian Kirovohradska region said: “A Russian attack on an area located in central Ukraine resulted in damage to power lines and a non-residential building.”
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2023-12-31 22:01:49
