Russia's Defense Ministry reported Thursday that its forces had struck Ukrainian military airfields and facilities, while Ukraine said that Russia launched a new round of air strikes on Kiev and other places.
According to the daily briefing of the Russia's Defense Ministry, its troops launched a large-scale attack on Ukrainian military airfields and military facilities using high-precision long-range weapons and drones during the past 24 hours, and all the planned targets were hit.
The Russian army repelled multiple attacks by the Ukrainian army in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and other directions and launched several offensives, destroying a large amount of military equipment of the Ukrainian army.
The Russian Defense Ministry also released a video on the same day showing the Russian military launching missiles at the Ukrainian deployment site in the Nikolaev region.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Russia launched air strikes on Kiev and other places which lasted nearly 10 hours.
The Ukrainian Air Force posted on social media that eight locations in Ukraine had been hit by the air strikes. As of 10:00 on Thursday, Ukraine's air defense forces had intercepted 382 air targets. This was the second consecutive day that Ukraine was hit by large-scale air strikes.
In addition, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on the same day that 201 battles had occurred on the front lines.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that Russia is awaiting Ukraine's signal on the third round of negotiations.
Previously, Russia and Ukraine held two direct negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey on May 16 and June 2.
Russia attacks Ukrainian military airport, facilities
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
