Because the warfare enters its 677th day, these are the principle developments.

Right here is the scenario on Monday, January 1, 2024.

Preventing

• Russia launched a brand new wave of drone and missile assaults throughout Ukraine, with not less than 28 folks injured after six missiles hit the northeastern metropolis of Kharkiv. Russia mentioned the assault on Ukraine’s second largest metropolis was “retaliation” for a lethal Ukrainian air raid on the Russian metropolis of Belgorod not removed from the border. Moscow focused a lodge housing army commanders and “international mercenaries” in addition to the headquarters of the Ukrainian Safety Service for the area. Kharkiv metropolis officers mentioned the missiles struck residential buildings, resorts and medical amenities, whereas drones hit residential buildings.
• Ukraine’s Air Power mentioned it had destroyed 21 of 49 Iranian-made Shahed drones Russia fired in its newest assault. Most have been aimed on the entrance line and elements of the Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia areas, it mentioned.
• Individually, Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov mentioned that three folks have been killed when Russian forces shelled a village close to the entrance line.
• Within the southern Ukrainian metropolis of Kherson, in the meantime, Russian shelling killed a 14-year-old boy and left a 9-year-old boy in hospital in important situation, based on regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

Politics and diplomacy

• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy struck an optimistic word as he sought to rally the nation in his New 12 months deal with. The 20-minute video message from his Kyiv workplace made virtually no direct reference to the scenario on the 1,000km (600-mile) entrance line or the restricted success of a counteroffensive launched in June. Nor did it seek advice from the political and diplomatic challenges going through Kyiv because it seeks to safe continued army and different help from its allies. As an alternative, Zelenskyy confused the power and unity of the Ukrainian folks within the face of Russia’s aggression and referenced successes towards the Russian Navy within the Black Sea. He promised that Ukraine would wreak “wrath” on Russian forces in 2024.
• In his New 12 months’s deal with, Russian President Vladimir Putin made solely passing reference to the invasion, praising Russia’s troopers on the entrance line as “heroes” in a combat for “fact and justice”. He additionally known as for unity amongst Russians within the face of “troublesome duties” and lauded Russian residents’ “solidarity, mercy and fortitude.” The four-minute pre-recorded video was aired simply earlier than midnight in every of Russia’s 11 time zones.