December 29, 2022 Russia-Ukraine news

By Kathleen Magramo, Eliza Mackintosh, Leinz Vales, Adrienne Vogt and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 1:42 a.m. ET, December 30, 2022
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6:07 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

Russian strikes leave several regions without power

From CNN's Olga Voiytovych in Kyiv

Another wave of Russian missile strikes left several Ukrainian regions without power on Thursday, with crews across the country racing to restore power as the New Year holidays approach.

Ukraine's Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that infrastructure in Kyiv, in north central Ukraine, and Odesa, in the south, had been damaged in the barrage and were experiencing emergency power outages -- when the electricity is protectively turned off to diminish damage from the grid shorting out.

"Today the enemy carried out another massive attack on the energy infrastructure of Ukraine," Halushchenko said in a post on Facebook. "Unfortunately, there is some damage to generation facilities and power grids. As of 11:00, the situation is difficult in the west of the country, Odesa and Kyiv regions."

Forty percent of Kyiv residents were without power, mayor Vitali Klitschko said Thursday, adding that this was due to security measures taken by power engineers during the air raid alarm and that they were now working to restore services. “The city is supplying heat and water in normal mode,” Klitschko said on the messaging platform Telegram.

Authorities in Odesa, in southern Ukraine, said that emergency power outages had been rolled out amid the missile attacks. “They are introduced due to the threat of missile attacks to avoid significant damage if the enemy manages to hit energy facilities,” DTEK, a utility company, said in a statement.

In western Ukraine, Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi said that 90% of the city was without power, cautioning that the city's waterworks could also to stop working.

6:07 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

16 Russian missiles intercepted over Kyiv, mayor says

From CNN's Olga Viotovych in Kyiv

Ukrainian air defence system intercepts a rocket launched by Russian forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29.
Ukrainian air defence system intercepts a rocket launched by Russian forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29. (Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 16 missiles over Kyiv, the capital's mayor said Thursday, amid a fresh barrage by Russia targeting civilian infrastructure. 

"16 missiles have already been destroyed over Kyiv," Vitali Klitschko said on the messaging app Telegram, revising an earlier statement that air defense forces had downed 15.

At least three people, including a 14-year-old, were injured and two people pulled from a damaged home, Klitschko said earlier.

Homes, an industrial facility and a playground in the capital have been damaged in the barrage, according to the Kyiv city military administration.

6:17 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

Kyiv's peace formula is "another PR campaign from Washington," Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman claims

From CNN's Clare Sebastian, Anna Chernova and Radina Gigova

Maria Zakharova attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 16.
Maria Zakharova attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in St. Petersburg, Russia, on June 16. (Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/Shutterstock)

Moscow views Kyiv's proposed peace plan as "another PR campaign from Washington" as Ukraine and the West proliferate "striking but unreliable statements," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Thursday. 

Her comments came after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow would not negotiate with Kyiv under the terms set out in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's 10-point peace formula.

“We assess the latest nonsensical idea as another PR campaign from Washington, which has recently tried to present the Kyiv regime as a peacekeeper," Zakharova said during a regular briefing. "They tried sufferers, they tried liberal democrats, who else, fighters for the freedom of Europe, and now peacekeepers.”

Zakharova also claimed that Kyiv's plans to hold a peace summit only if Russia fully capitulates "tells us they are starting to signal they don't have any strength left."

Some background: Ukraine’s 10-point peace formula was presented by Zelensky to world leaders at the Group of 20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in November. The steps include a path to nuclear safety, food security, a special tribunal for alleged Russian war crimes, and a final peace treaty with Moscow.

4:34 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

Kharkiv under missile attack, military official says

From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv region and its main Kharkiv city are "under attack of enemy rockets," the regional military chief said in a Telegram post Thursday. 

Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration said four rockets had hit the city — likely S300s.

"Critical infrastructure is the target," he said.

Search and rescue efforts were ongoing, he added, saying "the danger has not passed yet" and urging residents to stay in shelters.

Kharkiv's mayor earlier said a series of explosions had been heard.

Russia captured swathes of Kharkiv in the early days of its invasion, before Ukrainian forces retook most of the bordering region in an offensive in the fall.

4:11 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

At least 3 injured by Russian attacks in Kyiv

From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

People shelter in a subway station during a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29.
People shelter in a subway station during a rocket attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29. (Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

At least three people were injured in Kyiv Thursday, including a 14-year-old child, after Russia fired missiles at the capital, Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said.

Two people were rescued from the debris of a damaged home, Klitschko said in an update on Telegram.

“Missile fragments damaged a car on one of the central streets," he said.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing, Klitschko added.

3:05 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

90% of Lviv without power after Russian strikes, mayor says

From CNN's Olga Voitovych

Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi said 90% of the western city is without power and also warned of water disruptions as a result of Russian attacks Thursday.

“90% of the city is without electricity. We are waiting for more information from the power engineers. Trams and trolleybuses are not running in the city. There may be interruptions in water supply. We are switching to diesel generators at critical infrastructure facilities,” Sadovyi said on Telegram. 

In the capital Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Kitschko earlier warned residents of possible power and water outages after the Russian strikes.

Air defense systems were activated across Ukraine Thursday morning after Russia fired more than 120 missiles at a number of cities, according to Ukrainian officials.

3:54 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

Industrial facility and homes damaged by missile fragments, Kyiv officials say

From CNN's Olga Voitovych

Rescuers work at houses heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29.
Rescuers work at houses heavily damaged by a Russian missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29. (Kyrylo Tymoshenko/Telegram/Reuters)

Russia's attack on Ukraine's capital Thursday damaged homes, an industrial facility and a playground, according to the Kyiv city military administration.

“Two private houses in Darnytskyi district were damaged by the fragments of the downed missiles. An industrial enterprise in Holosiivskyi district and a playground in Pecherskyi district were also damaged,” the administration said on Telegram.

Air defenses are still working and authorities were working to clarify information on casualties, the administration said.

2:58 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

More than 120 missiles fired at Ukraine, Zelensky adviser says

From CNN's Olga Voitovych

Russia fired more than 120 missiles at cities across Ukraine on Thursday, according to Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak. 

“29.12.22. 120+ missiles over Ukraine launched by the 'evil Russian world' to destroy critical infrastructure & kill civilians en masse,” he said on Twitter. 

Air raid sirens sounded around Ukraine Thursday morning as officials reported missile strikes and air defense systems being activated in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zhytomyr and Poltava among other cities.

3:21 a.m. ET, December 29, 2022

Kyiv mayor warns of power and water outages after Russian attacks

From CNN's Olga Voitovych in Kyiv

Ukrainian air defence system intercepts a rocket launched by Russian forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29.
Ukrainian air defence system intercepts a rocket launched by Russian forces in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 29. (Mustafa Ciftci/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Kitschko warned residents of possible power and water outages after Russian missile attacks against the Ukrainian capital on Thursday. 

“There may be power outages in Kyiv. Charge your phones and other devices. Make a supply of water,” he said in a post on Telegram. 

Ukraine was hit with a new round of Russian missile attacks on Thursday, with blasts heard by CNN's team in Kyiv.

Air raid sirens have also sounded in several cities as officials reported missile strikes and air defense systems being activated, including Kharkiv in the northeast, Mykolaiv in the south, as well as Zhytomyr and Poltava in central Ukraine.