*Russia’s attack combined cruise missiles and drones, Ukraine’s military says.
*Ukrainians could spend the New Year holidays in the dark.
*The latest Russian strikes are likely to renew Ukrainian appeals for air defense systems.
*For now, Russia’s economy fares better than expected under Ukraine sanctions.
*Belarus says it shot down a Ukrainian missile, the type Ukraine uses for air defense.
*The Biden administration tries to stop Iran from supplying Russia with drones.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/12/29/world/russia-ukraine-news
The attack comes as Kyiv is striking more boldly at targets deep in Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry said this week that three soldiers were killed after air defenses shot down a Ukrainian drone approaching Engels air base, near Saratov, home to some of Russia’s nuclear-capable strategic bombers that are used to fire cruise missiles at Ukraine.
The governor of Russia’s Saratov region, Roman Busargin, said that Russian air defenses had shot down a drone on Thursday near the city of Engels, damaging a car and garage, but that no one was wounded.
Ukraine maintains a policy of not publicly claiming or denying responsibility for attacks in Russia, even as officials comment approvingly on them.