Pre-dawn attacks rock Kyiv as Russia launches its first major drone attack on the Ukrainian capital in weeks.Several people killed.
The raids damaged a building in central Kyiv but did not destroy energy facilities, as Ukraine shot down 13 Iranian-made Shahed drones, authorities said.
The United States is expected to approve sending Patriot missile batteries to Ukraine to shoot down incoming Russian missiles; the Kremlin says the systems would be a legitimate target.
Pope Francis urges people to spend less on Christmas celebrations and gifts this year and send the difference to Ukrainians to help them get through winter.
The United States is finalising plans to send its sophisticated Patriot air defence system to Ukraine following an urgent request from Kyiv, which wants more robust weapons to shoot down Russian missiles and drones that have devastated the country’s energy infrastructure and left millions without heating in the bitter cold of winter.
Washington could announce a decision on the Patriot as soon as Thursday, the Reuters and Associated Press news agencies reported, citing US government officials.
Ukraine’s air defence systems were tested again early on Wednesday morning, Mayor Vitali Klitschko saying emergency services had been dispatched to the Shevchenkivskyi district after explosions were heard.
“Details later,” he added on his Telegram channel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed Western leaders as recently as Monday to provide more advanced weapons to his country. The Patriot would be the most advanced surface-to-air missile system the West has provided to Ukraine.
Gaining Patriot air defence capability would be “very, very significant” for Kyiv, said Alexander Vindman, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and onetime leader of Ukraine policy at the White House.
“These are going to be quite capable of dealing with a lot of different challenges the Ukrainians have, especially if the Russians bring in short-range ballistic missiles.”
A woman sitting on the stopped escalator of a Kyiv metro station after an air raid warning. Other residents are also sheltering there.
Russia has continued with air raids on Ukraine, which have destroyed vital infrastructure necessary to provide power, heating and water [Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP]
The Pentagon declined to comment and there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned NATO against equipping Kyiv with Patriot missile defences, and it is likely the Kremlin will view the move as an escalation.
