Ukraine: Deadly shelling in Donetsk and Kherson, Christmas celebrations on front, Kyiv hits Crimea

The southern Ukrainian city of Kherson has been subjected to numerous shelling attacks from Russian-occupied parts of the region, according to local officials. 

The head of the Kherson city administration, Roman Mrochko, said two people died in the attacks and several others were wounded.

Meanwhile, Russian military personnel marked Orthodox Christmas on Sunday. 

Russia’s Defense Ministry said military priests led prayer services on the front line both on Sunday and on Christmas Eve night.

Russian President Vladimir Putin was joined by families of military personnel who died in the war in Ukraine at Christmas Eve services at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence, in the western suburbs of Moscow.

“Many of our men, our courageous, heroic guys, are warriors of Russia even now, during the holiday — with arms in hand, they defend the interests of our country,” he said to the attending families, according to the Kremlin’s press service.

On an unannounced visit to the country this weekend, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa pledged Japan’s continued support for Ukraine. 

Speaking at a press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Kyiv on Sunday, she said that Japan had decided to “contribute $37 million (€33.8m) to the NATO trust fund to provide drone detection systems,” according to Japan’s Foreign Ministry.

At least 11 people were killed in Russian shelling in Donetsk on Saturday, according to regional governor Vadym Filashkin. 

Five children were among the dead and eight further people were wounded in the attack on the eastern Ukraine region, partially occupied by Russia. 

Emergency services believe the number of victims could increase as around six more people appear to be under the rubble of one destroyed building.

Uk