Russia said on Friday that its forces continued operation in several directions, while Ukraine reported repelling multiple Russian offensives.
In its daily briefing, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian forces brought under control six settlements in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk between May 17 and 23.
The ministry also said that Russian forces destroyed Ukrainian tanks, armored vehicles, artillery, base stations for electronic warfare, and ammunition depots.
Russian air defense systems intercepted guided bombs, HIMARS rocket projectiles, and more than 1,000 drones of the Ukrainian forces, the ministry said.
On the same day, the Ukrainian side reported 141 battles on frontlines in the past day, and Ukraine's air, missile, and artillery forces attacked several Russian targets, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said.
It also said that the Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks in directions such as Kharkiv, Lyman, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Kursk, destroying Russian tanks, armored vehicles, artillery systems, drones and facilities.
Ukraine's capital Kiev was hit by Russian missiles and drones in the early morning of Saturday, with explosions heard throughout the city.
The city's mayor said that at least eight people were killed in the air strikes and the explosions led to fires in several places across the city.
The mayor also said that Ukraine's air defense system was still working and urged residents to take shelter.
The Ukrainian air force said that Russia launched ballistic missile attacks on Kiev.
According to Ukrainian media reports, 50 attack drones were detected over Ukraine's skies, most of which were heading toward Kiev.
Russia continues operation in multiple directions, Ukraine claims repelling Russian attacks
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
