Ukraine responded to the recent Russian bombardments this Monday with renewed resolve. A deadly strike hit a Russian Army headquarters in the town of Makiivka, located in the Donetsk region that Moscow seized last September. The Ukrainian command confirmed the attack on its social media channel and stated that the assault involved heavy casualties for the enemy, with more than 300 soldiers reported wounded and the site severely damaged. The Russian Ministry of Defense later affirmed that 63 Russian soldiers were killed in the Makiivka barracks, attributing the attack to the Kyiv regime and to the use of six US-made HIMARS missiles aimed at the temporary headquarters of a Russian military unit. Two missiles were reportedly shot down by Russian air defenses. A Russian spokesperson, Igor Konashenkov, said the casualties occurred after four missiles hit and added that families of the fallen would receive support and assistance.
Russia has continued its campaign against Ukraine, delivering more missile and drone strikes while Ukrainian resilience holds strong. The assault appeared to unfold over several days with intensifying attacks. Yuri Ignat, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, told Ukrainian television that Ukraine faced three days of bombardment and that the military remains vigilant, preparing and maintaining readiness for further threats.
The defense leadership affirmed that Russia plans to persist with the war and urged Ukrainians to back the Army fully as it stands ready to repel any aggressions. Mykhailo Podolyak, a presidential adviser, remarked that Russia fears a full Ukrainian mobilization and insisted that no behind the scenes deals would shape Ukraine’s future path. He also suggested that Russia cannot secure its influence over global issues by using force alone.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about the current security situation and warned that Russia misreads Ukraine’s unity. He asserted that Ukraine can withstand pressure and that no weapons or tactics will grant Russia success in taking away Ukraine’s independence. He stressed the importance of solidarity as the nation faces ongoing threats.
Third day of major attacks
Following major Russian missile and drone strikes on the end of year and the start of the new one, Moscow returned with another round of bombardments this Monday. The Ukrainian Army reported that most of the missiles and drones were intercepted, limiting the impact of the assault.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces claimed credit for destroying a total of 39 unmanned aerial vehicles, along with two Orlan-10 reconnaissance aircraft and a Kh-59 air-launched guided missile that were launched by Russian forces during the night of January 1-2. The Ukrainian Army Air Force Command released the figures and noted that several missiles were shot down over multiple regions, including Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhia, with additional strikes reported in the southern Kherson region near the city of Beryslav, where several people were injured.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko reported on his Telegram channel that Russian forces launched a large-scale attack on the capital featuring Iranian-made Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 drones, commonly described as kamikaze drones. The Ukrainian command did not disclose the exact number of missiles and drones used in the latest hours but acknowledged that some strikes did affect electrical infrastructure and private residences.
Ukraine’s power operator Ukenergo described the situation as under control, noting that emergency measures were implemented as a precaution to protect the grid amid night-time attacks that disrupted electricity service in the capital. Military sources indicated that air defenses and mobile fire units continued to respond, working to repel the latest aggressions and restore normal operations.