Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of striking civilian targets today, just hours into the new year.
The Kremlin said 24 civilians are dead after Kyiv attacked Ukraine’s own Kursan region.
Russia currently occupies and controls the area.
A Russian-installed governor in Kursan says three Ukrainian drones struck the site of a New Year celebration.
The governor also claims multiple people have been burned alive.
The governor’s office released pictures of what appears to be a dead body.
Ukraine’s military hasn’t commented on the accusations yet.
Meanwhile, Ukraine accuses Russia of attacking energy infrastructure across the country overnight into New Year’s day.
According to Kyiv, Moscow launched over 200 attack drones. Ukrainian officials say the Odessa region is among the ones hit with a two-story residential building being damaged.
Much of the city spent the night in darkness, as power shortages continued to cripple much of everyday life in Kyiv.
But people are still heading into the new year with optimism.
“People who sit at home without light can still have light in their souls,” said Mykola Ushov, a Kyiv resident.
Russia’s claim of the attack comes just days after the Kremlin accused Kyiv of trying to strike the residence of Russian President Vladimir Putin on Dec. 29.
Russia released what it described as evidence of the attack two days later.
On Wednesday, the Kremlin showed a video of one drone in a dark forest. Neither the location nor the date of the video could be independently verified.
Then on Thursday, Russia said it extracted and decoded a file from a downed Ukrainian drone. According to the Kremlin, the file shows the drone was targeting Putin’s residence.
“We would like to share with you the controller prepared by our specialists.
We believe this step will resolve all questions and facilitate the establishment of the truth,” Russian officials said.
They also said they will now hand over the relevant information to the US.
In his New Year’s speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again said that a peace agreement is 90% ready. He made clear that Ukraine wants to end the fighting, but not at any cost.
“We want the end of the war, not the end of Ukraine. Are we tired? Extremely,” Zelenskyy said. “Does that mean we are ready to surrender? Those who think so are deeply mistaken.”
Russia had called on Ukraine’s military to fully withdraw from the Donbass region.
