Minutes after midnight on New Year's Day, numerous explosions shook the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Sunday's attacks on Kyiv followed a barrage of at least 20 cruise missiles fired at sites across Ukraine, which officials dubbed "Terror on the Eve of the New Year."

The fresh attack triggered air raid sirens nationwide, and several Kyiv residents flocked to their balconies to cry, "Glory to Ukraine!" Glory to the victors!"

Vitali Klitschko, the mayor of Kyiv, stated on Telegram that the first explosions of the new year occurred approximately 30 minutes after midnight in two neighborhoods. He noted that no early reports of casualties were available.

The city's military administration reported the destruction of 23 Russian-launched "air objects" and the operation of air defense systems.

Earlier in the evening, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainians would fight till victory in the eleven-month-old war.

We shall continue to engage in combat. "For the sake of the keyword, 'victory,'" he stated in the impassioned speech. "I want to say to you all: You Ukrainians are great! Look at what we've accomplished and what we're doing!"

"We fight as one team — the entire nation and our areas. I admire you all. I'd want to salute every invincible Ukrainian region," he continued.

The earlier series of attacks in Kyiv caused damage to the Hotel Alfavito and a residential building, resulting in at least one death and twelve injuries. An injured Japanese journalist was transported to a hospital, according to Klitschko.

Yaroslav Mutenko, a 23-year-old filmmaker who lives in an apartment complex near Hotel Alfavito, reported hearing a loud explosion while he was in the shower getting ready for a New Year's Eve party. During a previous incident in October, there were comparable explosions in the vicinity, but nothing as loud as Saturday's detonation.

As he observed rescue crews cordoning off the street in front of the hotel, he told AFP he still intended to attend the party at a friend's house.

"Our adversaries, the Russians, can destroy our serenity but not our spirit," he remarked. Why do I choose to rejoice with my friends? Because this year, I realize how crucial it is to have loved ones around."

In addition, raids were reported in the southern city of Mykolaiv, where seven persons were hurt, according to a local official.

Governor Vitaliy Kim stated via Telegram that Russia had targeted people with its airstrikes, a claim earlier refuted by Moscow. "According to current trends, occupiers are not only targeting critical [infrastructure]... in many cities [they are targeting] residential areas, hotels, garages, and roads," he stated.

The strikes occurred at an alarmingly rapid pace, alarming officials just 36 hours after Russia launched a salvo of missiles against energy infrastructure installations.

Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, emphasized the heavy civilian toll of this latest offensive, stating that "this time, Russia's mass missile attack is deliberately targeting residential areas and not even energy infrastructure." "War criminal Putin 'celebrates' the New Year by killing people," he continued, demanding Russia's permanent place on the United Nations Security Council be revoked.

Dmytro Lubinets, the ombudsman for human rights in Ukraine, described the attack as "Terror on New Year's Eve."

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian defense ministry answered with a message of defiance.

"With each new missile attack on civilian infrastructure, more Ukrainians are convinced of the need to fight until the total collapse of Putin's regime," the Telegram message stated.

In Ukraine, curfews between 7:00 p.m. and 12:00 a.m. local time remained in effect, making it difficult to celebrate the beginning of 2023 in public locations.

Several regional governors issued warnings via social media not to violate New Year's Eve regulations.