Ukraine: At least 20 dead after the Russian strike on an apartment building in Dnipro

At least 20 people have been killed after a rocket attack on an apartment building in Dnipro, Ukraine.

Among the dead is a 15-year-old girl, as stated by Valentin Reznichenko, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region. At least 73 people were injured, including 14 children. According to Reznichenko, more than 40 people are being treated in local hospitals.

Russia hit the high-rise building in Dnipro with a Kh-22 missile, the Air Defense Service of Ukraine reports. Ukraine's military says the country currently has "no firepower capable of shooting down this type of missile."

The search and rescue mission continues - into its second day - as authorities fear at least 40 people are still trapped under the rubble.

Russia continues to pound Russia

Ukraine's military command announced today that yesterday Russia launched three airstrikes, 57 missile strikes and carried out 69 attacks from multiple missile launch systems. Ukrainian forces shot down 26 missiles.

There was no immediate comment from Moscow on the attacks, which are the largest wave of Russian attacks in Ukraine in two weeks and took place on the day Ukrainians celebrated the coming of the New Year (based on the Julian calendar).

Yesterday's strikes hit critical infrastructure in Kyiv and other areas. Officials said the strikes would lead to mid-winter blackouts in the capital and other large parts of the country in the coming days.

As ground clashes continue in the eastern part of the country, Britain has announced it will send 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks as well as other advanced artillery weapons in the coming weeks.

The first batch of Western-made armored vehicles in Ukraine is likely to be seen by Moscow as an escalation of the conflict. The Russian embassy in London said the armored vehicles would prolong the standoff. Germany is now expected to come under pressure to do the same, while Kyiv continues to ask for advanced military equipment.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his advisers have "analyzed the military picture, looked at the strategic impact on supporting Britain and identified an opportunity where he believes the UK and its allies can have the greatest impact," it said. government spokesman in a statement.

With information Kyiv Independent & APE-MPE