**Russia’s New Year Attack Kills 2, Injures 6 in Kyiv**
On January 1, Russia launched a drone attack on Ukraine’s capital city, Kyiv. The attack killed two people and injured six others, including two pregnant women.
The central bank building was damaged by falling debris from the drones. However, the National Bank of Ukraine said that all its operating systems and services are fully operational and unaffected.
Ukraine’s air defense shot down 63 drones out of 111 launched by Russia overnight on January 1. Another 46 drones did not reach their targets.
**Russia Loses Over 38,000 Troops in Kursk Oblast**
According to Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, the Russian army has lost over 38,000 troops and more than 1,000 pieces of equipment since Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast began.
Syrskyi also mentioned that over 700 servicemen from the Russian military were captured during the Ukrainian incursion. He emphasized that Ukraine will continue to destroy the invaders, regardless of their nationality.
**Ukraine Brings Back 1,358 People from Russian Captivity**
In 2024, more Ukrainians were freed from Russian captivity than in the previous year. A total of 1,358 people were released through prisoner exchanges and negotiations, including military personnel and civilians.
Among those freed were defenders of Azovstal, Mariupol, and other key Ukrainian strongholds. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the U.S. for providing critical military equipment to Ukraine and expressed hope that the new American president would be willing and capable of achieving peace and ending Putin’s aggression.
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