Meanwhile, Russian forces launched another massive missile attack on Ukraine on Dec. 31 last year. Missiles rained down on Ukrainian territory, and air defense sirens sounded over all 25 administrative regions of Ukraine. In the capital, Kiev, 10 massive explosions occurred on the same day, killing at least one person and wounding 28 others.
A hotel in Kiev was damaged in the attack on Saturday
No major New Year's Eve celebrations were held in Ukraine as the electricity supply system continued to be shelled. When the clock struck midnight, a curfew was also imposed across Ukraine, as usual. However, nothing stopped Ukrainians from celebrating the New Year.
Ukrainians ventured back to their home country
Just to be with their families
On the day of the New Year, a number of Ukrainians who had left the country returned to their hometowns to celebrate New Year's Eve with their families. After months of separation, for some families it was a rare opportunity to reunite, no matter how brief the time together was.
Mikita, still in full combat fatigues, clutched a bouquet of pink roses at Kiev's central train station on Saturday morning as he waited on Platform 9 for his wife, Valeria, to return home from Poland, where the couple had not seen each other for six months. After hugging and kissing his wife, Mikita said, "You know, it's hard to wait so long."
Valeria sought refuge in Spain after the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and later moved to Poland, while Mikita has been fighting on the front lines in southern and eastern Ukraine. When asked what their New Year's resolutions were, she replied simply: "Just to be together." Near the two, another soldier, Vasily Homko, 42, was happily reuniting with his daughter, Yana, and his wife, Galina, who had been living in Slovakia because of the war but finally decided to return to Kiev to spend New Year's Eve with Vasily.
In the dim light, a number of Ukrainians gathered in the square and lit fireworks
Another young couple was also reunited without incident at platform 8. 23-year-old university student Arsenia Kolomeyets had been living in Italy and, despite being keen to return to Kiev to see her boyfriend, Daniel Lyashchenko, she was afraid of being hit by missiles and drones.
"He kept saying, come back, make sure you come back!" She recalls, "I think the fear was part of it, but spending the holiday with my family was the most important part. So, I overcame my fear and came to Kiev." Although there is no electricity in the house, Lyashchenko said is very much looking forward to welcoming 2023 with her family and their cat.
To ensure that residents have lighting during New Year's celebrations, the southwestern Ukrainian province of Odessa has restricted work in energy-intensive industries on Dec. 31, 2022, and Jan. 1, 2023, the region's head, Maksim Marchenko, formally announced on Friday, saying that all possible means have been used to " eliminate" the "consequences" of a string of Russian attacks on Ukraine and restore power supplies.
A woman dances with fireworks in Sofia Square before a midnight curfew in Kiev, Ukraine
A spate of attacks on New Year's Eve in Kiev has left many uneasy, unsure if the skies will be calm on the last day of the year. Natalia Kantonenko, who traveled back to Kiev from Finland, said, "I hope there will be no accidents today."
This is the first time Natalia has seen her brother, Serhii Kantonenko, since Feb. 24, 2022, and Serhii and other relatives traveled from Mykolaiv to Kiev to meet Natalia so that the family could spend the New Year together. "We don't worry about electricity because we are together and I think that's the most important thing." Serhii said.
An injured man is being treated after a missile attack on Kiev on Saturday
Missile rains down on the attack:
We have only one wish for the new year, and you know what it is
However, Natalia didn't get her wish.On the same day, Dec. 31, 2022, the Russians once again launched a large-scale missile attack on Ukraine. Missiles rained down on Ukrainian territory, and air defense sirens rang out over all 25 administrative districts of Ukraine. Ten massive explosions were reported in Kiev that day, killing at least one person and injuring 28 others. Many Ukrainians who were preparing to celebrate the New Year had to rush to underground shelters.
A building housing a hotel in downtown Kiev was hit by a missile, destroying one corner of the house and scattering rubble on nearby streets.Yaroslav Mutenko, a 23-year-old Ukrainian filmmaker, lives in a nearby apartment building. He said he was taking a shower and preparing to go to a New Year's Eve party when the attack occurred and suddenly heard a loud bang.
Ukrainians who were preparing to celebrate the New Year rushed to underground shelters
Witnessed rescuers blocking off the street in front of the hotel, but Mutenko was still preparing to go to a New Year's party at a friend's house, stating, "Why do I want to celebrate with my friends? Because this year I realized it's important to have friends around."
With less than an hour left until 2023, Kiev and several Ukrainian cities have been hit by another round of missile attacks. For some Ukrainians who have been mentally preparing for the holiday, the roar of artillery fire is not stopping them from celebrating. Harena Hradka, who lives in Kiev, said, "None of the attacks will stop us from celebrating the New Year with our families."
New Year's Eve was tough for Nelia Shestak, 51, whose two sons, one killed in combat and the other being held captive by Russian troops. "For us, the New Year's holiday is no longer a vacation," she said. Despite the loss, she still holds a modest New Year's celebration for her granddaughter and other family members. "We celebrate together. Without electricity, we light candles to celebrate." She added, "We have only one wish for the new year, and you know what it is."
Red Star News reporter Xu Slow
Red Star News reporter Xu Slow
Red Star News reporter Deng pennant light editor Xiao Ziqi