Russian Shelling Of Kherson In Southern Ukraine, Sumy Region in East Injures At Least Four
A woman holds her cat, which was carried by a firefighter out of an apartment building damaged by Russian shelling in Donetsk, Russian-controlled Ukraine, on December 19.
A drone attack in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson and Russian shelling in the eastern region of Sumy injured at least four people, authorities said late on December 19.
Two people, including a child, were injured in Kherson, according to the head of the city's military administration, Roman Mrochko.
Kherson military authorities said a child and a woman were injured as a result of the attack, which damaged a school, houses, and garages.
Around 10:30 p.m. local time authorities reported more Russian shelling from the opposite bank of the Dnieper River. Russian troops shell the Kherson region, including the city of Kherson, from their positions on the opposite bank nearly every day.
In the Sumy region, the military administration reported two people were injured by Russian shelling of several villages and towns.
The Russian military regularly attacks the Sumy region and others bordering Russia using with various types of weapons.
The attacks on December 19 occurred as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a year-end news conference that Russia had not achieved any of its war aims in Ukraine in 2023, although he conceded Ukraine still faces "lots of challenges."
Hours after the news conference ended Russia launched a fresh air attack on Kyiv, prompting air-defense systems to engage, the military administration of the region that surrounds the Ukrainian capital said.
The extent of the attack was not immediately clear. The military administration urged people to stay in shelters.
Earlier on December 19, Ukraine’s air force said it had shot down two Russian drones in the Starokostyantyniv district of the Khmelnytskiy region in the country’s west.
Fatigue And Frustration As Ukraine Soldiers On
1/10Ukrainian soldiers fire a Swedish-made Archer self-propelled howitzer at Russian positions in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine on December 16.
Kyiv's forces are facing a shortage of artillery shells and have scaled back some military operations because of a shortfall in foreign assistance, a senior army general told Reuters.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
2/10A soldier from Ukraine's 45th Artillery Brigade feeds a stray dog near the Archer self-propelled howitzer.
Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskiy was speaking after Republican lawmakers held up a U.S. aid package and Hungary blocked European Union funding for Kyiv as it battles Russia's invasion.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
3/10A Ukrainian soldier patrols the forest.
"There's a problem with ammunition, especially post-Soviet [shells] - that's 122-millimeter, 152-mlillimeter [shells]. And today these problems exist across the entire front line," Tarnavskiy said in an interview, adding that the shortage of artillery shells was a "very big problem" and the drop in foreign military aid was having an impact on the battlefield.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
4/10Ukrainian soldiers ride aboard a truck in the Donetsk region.
"The volumes that we have today are not sufficient for us today, given our needs. So, we're redistributing it. We're replanning tasks that we had set for ourselves and making them smaller because we need to provide for them," General Tarnavskiy said, without providing details.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
5/10Ukrainian soldiers enjoy a cigarette break near the entrance to their dugout during a lull in fighting near Bakhmut on December 15.
Prior to Tarnavskiy's remarks, Kyiv had said its forces had no intention of letting up the fight and would soldier on.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
6/10A kettle of boiling water captures the attention of a Ukrainian soldier in his dugout.
“If we won’t have a single bullet, we will kill them with shovels,” said Serhiy, a commander in the 59th Brigade, which is active in the eastern city of Avdiyivka, who spoke on condition that only his first name be used.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
7/10Soldiers eat and rest in their dugout.
“Sure, everyone is tired of war, physically and mentally. But imagine if we stop — what happens next?” Serhiy added.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
8/10A soldier carries shells to a self-propelled howitzer.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
9/10A soldier adjusts the camouflage above a 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
10/10A soldier covers his ears as the Gvozdivka fires onto Russian positions near Bakhmut.
After 22 months of war along the 1,000-kilometer front line, neither Ukraine nor Russia are gaining significant ground.
Despite wavering financial support that has forced its military to scale back operations, Kyiv is determined to prevail against Moscow's forces as they dig in for another winter in an already grueling war.
Previous slide
Next slide
Russian troops targeted the region from Russia's Primorsko-Akhtarsk district using Iranian-made Shahed drones, according to the press service of the Ukrainian Air Force.
Starokostyantyniv, where a Ukrainian military airfield is located, came under Russian missile attacks last week.
Russia said Ukrainian forces had attempted to attack Moscow with a drone, but air defenses destroyed the aircraft, and debris fell outside the center of the capital.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin initially announced the drone attack without saying whether Kyiv was responsible or saying where the drone had been launched from.
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service has seen its audience grow significantly since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 and is among the most cited media outlets in the country. Its bold, in-depth reporting from the front lines has won many accolades and awards. Its comprehensive coverage also includes award-winning reporting by the Donbas.Realities and Crimea.Realities projects and the Schemes investigative unit.
![A Ukrainian soldier patrols the forest.<br />
<br />
"There's a problem with ammunition, especially post-Soviet [shells] - that's 122-millimeter, 152-mlillimeter [shells]. And today these problems exist across the entire front line," Tarnavskiy said in an interview, adding that the shortage of artillery shells was a "very big problem" and the drop in foreign military aid was having an impact on the <strong><a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-it-downs-33-ukraine-launched-drones-over-russian-regions-2023-12-17/">battlefield</a></strong>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
](https://gdb.rferl.org/01000000-0aff-0242-7a89-08dbffa8c809_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
