Air raid sirens sound in Kyiv's Independence Square as New Year approaches

Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv’s Independence Square on December 31 as tensions rise, with Russia claiming Ukraine attempted a drone attack on a presidential residence. Ukraine plans security talks with allies this weekend ahead of a January 6 summit in France.

Air raid sirens echoed through Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, December 31, ahead of the New Year.

Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry released video footage showing what it claimed was a downed drone, in a briefing intended to suggest that Ukraine had attempted to attack a presidential residence. Kyiv, however, denied that any such attack took place.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, December 30, that national security advisers from Kyiv’s “Coalition of the Willing” would meet in Ukraine on Saturday. He added that world leaders would then gather in France on January 6.

(Production: Reim Nahaboo/Reuters)

Air raid sirens echoed through Independence Square in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, December 31, ahead of the New Year.

Earlier, Russia’s Defense Ministry released video footage showing what it claimed was a downed drone, in a briefing intended to suggest that Ukraine had attempted to attack a presidential residence. Kyiv, however, denied that any such attack took place.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday, December 30, that national security advisers from Kyiv’s “Coalition of the Willing” would meet in Ukraine on Saturday. He added that world leaders would then gather in France on January 6.

(Production: Reim Nahaboo/Reuters)