Russia launches 21 missiles and drones, air defense reacts
Illustrative photo: Russia launched 21 missiles and dozens of drones overnight (Getty Images)
On the night of December 31, the Russian Federation (RF) launched 61 aerial attacks against Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Defense managed to destroy 22 of them, while another 24 were lost locationally, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
During the attack, Russia used:
- Six Iskander-M/Kh-23 ballistic missiles launched from the Voronezh region, Russia;
- One Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missile launched from a MiG-31K fighter jet in the airspace of the Tula region, Russia;
- Six Kh-69 guided aviation missiles launched by tactical aircraft from the airspace of the Belgorod region, Russia;
- Eight Kh-22 cruise missiles launched from Tu-22M3 aircraft in the airspace of the Tula region, Russia;
- Forty Shahed-type attack drones and imitator drones of other types from the directions of Russian Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Bryansk, and Millerovo.
The following units were involved in repelling the aerial attack:
- Anti-aircraft missile forces;
- Electronic warfare units;
- Mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces.
A total of the following were destroyed:
- One Kh-47M2 Kinzhal missile;
- Five Kh-69 guided aviation missiles;
- Sixteen Shahed-type attack drones.
Additionally, 24 imitator drones of various types were lost locationally without causing negative consequences.
December 31 attack on Ukraine
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, Russian forces have regularly attacked Ukrainian territory using drones, ballistic missiles, guided aerial bombs, and other weapons that endanger civilian lives.
On the morning of December 31, another massive strike was carried out, with explosions reported in Kyiv and Shostka in the Sumy region.
According to Shostka Mayor Mykola Noga, the attack destroyed certain infrastructure facilities and caused damage to:
- Twelve multi-story residential buildings;
- Two educational institutions;
- Other social facilities.
