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At least two civilians have been killed and over a dozen injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine.
13:07, Thu, Jan 1, 2026 Updated: 13:11, Thu, Jan 1, 2026
At least two civilians have been killed and over a dozen injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine (Image: Getty)
Ukraine has faced a grim start to 2026, as Russia attacked regions across the country with 205 drones overnight. According to regional authorities, early on New Year's Day, at least two civilians have been killed in the Russian attacks, while at least 16 others have been injured over the past day.
Of the 205 Russian drones directed at Ukraine, the latter's air defences intercepted 176 drones. However, at least 24 drones made it through, striking 15 locations, Ukraine's air force said. In Kherson Oblast in southern Ukraine, one person was killed and four others were injured in the last day, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Meanwhile, in the eastern Donetsk Oblast, another person was killed, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.
Ukraine faced a grim start to 2026, as Russia launched 205 drones overnight (Image: Getty)
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In Zaporizhzhia Oblast - of which around 75% is now controlled by Moscow - nine people were injured as a result of Russian attacks over the past day, local authorities reported. In total, Russian forces carried out 612 strikes on 24 settlements across Zaporizhzhia Oblast over the past 24 hours, according to Kyiv Independent.
In Kharkiv Oblast, one of the most heavily affected by the ongoing Russian invasion, eight settlements were attacked over the past day, injuring two civilians, a 76-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. Civilian infrastructure was damaged in five districts, including homes, power lines and a vehicle.
A 25-year-old man was injured in a Russian attack overnight in Sumy Oblast, with Russian forces attacking 37 settlements in the region 75 times in the past 24 hours.
Nine people were injured in 612 strikes on 24 settlements over the past 24 hours in Zaporizhzhia Oblast (Image: Getty)
Russia launched massive drone attacks on Odesa and Volyn oblasts during New Year’s night, targeting energy and civilian infrastructure. Critical infrastructure in Volyn Oblast was also targeted, with several strikes sparking fires and a significant number of people were left without power, the Energy Ministry reported.
In total, there have been 53,006 civilian casualties, including 14,534 deaths, since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, according to the UN. According to the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine in November, the number of casualties for the first 10 months of 2025 (12,062) had already exceeded the total for all of 2024 (9,112).
On the other side of the war, Ukraine has waged a devastating campaign on the so-called Achilles’ heel of Russia’s oil refineries, thanks to secret training from America’s CIA, it has been claimed. Ukrainian forces regularly struck Russia’s oil refineries during 2025, with the attacks ramping up in the second half of the year.
The surge sparked fuel shortages in parts of Russia and soaring prices amid production issues, which also reduced exports. The strikes cost the Russian economy up to £55 million per day, according to a US intelligence estimate.
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