Russian and Ukrainian forces intensified their attacks against each other during the final days of 2023.

Russia unleashed a massive barrage of aerial strikes across Ukraine on Friday. Ukraine described the attacks as the largest that Russia has carried out since the invasion began in February 2022.

The confirmed death toll from the attacks climbed to 41 on Sunday, when two more bodies were found in the capital of Kyiv. Rescuers are still digging through rubble in the affected areas.

Russia also started pounding the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles on Saturday. The attack continued into Sunday. The region's governor says 28 people, including two children, were wounded.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy issued a statement on Saturday. He reiterated that his country's forces intend to continue to resist.

He said Ukraine is preparing to produce more weapons in 2024. He added, "We are working with our partners on solutions needed by every Ukrainian soldier, our entire nation, our state."

Meanwhile, the governor of the western Russian region of Belgorod said on Sunday that 24 people had been killed in a Ukrainian bomb attack that had been carried out the previous day. The region borders Ukraine.

Ukrainian officials have not officially claimed responsibility for the assault. But a major Ukrainian media outlet quoted officials as saying that Ukrainian forces conducted missile attacks against military facilities in the city of Belgorod.