Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


Ukraine Reports Downing 28 Russian Drones

by VOA News

   Ukraine's military said Monday its air defenses downed 28 of 31 drones
   that Russia launched during attacks overnight.

   The Ukrainians air force said the drones were destroyed in several
   regions, including Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv and Donetsk.

   The regional governor of Odesa, Oleh Kiper, said on Telegram that 17 of
   the drones were downed there, with falling wreckage of one drone
   damaging port infrastructure in Odesa.

   Ukraine's military also reported destroying two Russian missiles.

   In his nightly video address Christmas Eve, Ukrainian President
   Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that this Christmas, the second in a row
   during Russia's war on Ukraine, the most important element for
   Ukrainian families, is "not what dishes are on the table, but what
   people are at the table. And how precious it is to have them around."

   Zelenskyy remarked that Ukrainians' values and wishes have changed
   since the onset of the war.

   "How today it's not so much about how we decorate our homes, but rather
   how we protect them and clean up the mess, sweeping the enemy out of
   our home. How we rejoice at seeing the first star in the evening sky
   and not seeing enemy missiles and 'Shaheds' in it," he said.

   For the first time since 1917, Ukraine is celebrating Christmas on Dec.
   25 instead of Jan. 7, the date that Russia celebrates.

   Zelenskyy signed legislation moving the public Christmas Day holiday to
   Dec. 25 last July in response to Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine.
   Moving the holiday reflects another Ukrainian cultural shift away from
   Russia.

   While both Ukraine and the West observe the Gregorian calendar, Russia
   still follows the Julian calendar for some religious practices. Kyiv's
   switch is a sign of its continuing effort to align itself with Europe.

   Some material for this report came from The Associated Press, Agence
   France-Presse and Reuters.