<Anchor>



In 2023, the international situation is facing a more turbulent time than ever amidst war and economic crises.

Let's go to Ukraine first.

I am a SBS correspondent in Kiiu, the capital.



Correspondent Kwak Sang-eun, Russia fired missiles until the last day of last year?



<Reporter>



Yes, Russia continued airstrikes throughout Ukraine, including the capital Kieu, yesterday (31st) and until dawn today.



You can see the collapsed building behind me.

This is the site of damage from the missile attack.



Russia launched more than 20 cruise missiles and rockets yesterday alone, more than half of which were shot down by air defenses, but the damage was significant.



We will tell you from the moment of the air raid, which was tense at the time.



Yesterday during the day, a loud air-raid alarm went off, followed by explosions.



The reporters also hurriedly escaped to a nearby cafe in search of an underground space, but many people were already shaking inside the cafe.



[Air Raid Evacuation Citizen: I was in the playground, and the sound of the explosion kept getting louder, and the father said we had to evacuate.]



The mother soothes the crying child.



[it's okay.

Mom won't cry anymore.

Everything will be fine.]



In this air raid, several houses in Kieu were completely destroyed, and schools, kindergartens, and hotel buildings were severely damaged.



This is the site that was damaged by an air raid about 30 minutes ago.



As you can see, one side of the hotel building completely collapsed, and all the windows of the surrounding buildings were shattered by the impact.



[Oksana/'Air raid damage site' witness: I felt vibrations and then smoke rose.

It was a strong shock, as if the ground was shaking.]



So far, one person has been killed and more than 30 people, including Japanese reporters, have been injured in this air raid.



<Anchor>



I think the reporters were also a little surprised.

How is Russia or Ukraine reacting?



<Reporter>



Five days ago, I came back to Ukraine for an interview.



During that time, air-raid alerts went off every day except for one day, and three days we heard earth-shattering explosions.



President Zelensky strongly criticized the Russian airstrikes leading up to the New Year.



[Zelensky/Ukrainian President: Both those who ordered and carried out this attack will never be forgiven.]



On the other hand, Russian President Putin toasted soldiers while repeatedly emphasizing the legitimacy of war in a New Year's video released immediately after the air raid. .



<Anchor>



Peace negotiations still seem a bit far away.

How is the local atmosphere?



[ Reporter



] The will of the Ukrainians to fight is still the same.



In particular, expectations for victory are high as the strategically important cities of Kharkiv and Kherson were recaptured, and President Zelensky's recent visit to the United States was concluded.



[Sergiy/Kiu Citizen: I'm sure of victory.

We will be able to end this war in half a year.]



[Alessandre/Citizen of Kieu: Too many people lost their lives.

There can be no flimsy compromise other than victory.]



Right now, the possibility of negotiations between the two sides is not high, and the prospects for how the war will develop differ depending on experts.



It seems that important variables will be how long Western support such as the US will last and how public opinion inside Russia will move.



(Video coverage: Kim Si-nae, Video editing: Hwang Ji-young)