The air defense systems successfully intercepted 72 out of 99 aerial targets used by Russia in its attack on Ukraine

This was reported by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhny.

The initial wave of the attack involved ‘Shahed’ drones from the southeast, moving subsequently across different regions of Ukraine. All 35 attack UAVs ‘Shahed-136/131’ were destroyed by the air defense.

Russia utilized various types of missiles in its assault on Ukraine:

• In the morning, the enemy employed strategic aviation, Tu-95MS bombers. Sixteen aircraft took off around 06:00, launching no fewer than 70 air-launched cruise missiles X-101/X-555/X-55.
• From 07:30, launches of ten air-launched ballistic missiles X-47M2 ‘Kinzhal’ were recorded, launched from MiG-31K interceptors.
• The adversary also attacked from the sea with three ‘Kalibr’ cruise missiles, and from the north with twelve missiles flying on a ballistic trajectory similar to Iskander-M/S-300/S-400.
• Four anti-radiation missiles X-31P were launched from Su-35 tactical aircraft.

According to preliminary results, the enemy used a total of 99 airborne attack assets, including missiles of various types.

With the combined efforts of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine, 72 aerial targets were neutralized:

• 10 out of 10 air-launched ballistic missiles X-47M2 ‘Kinzhals.’
• 59 out of 70 cruise missiles X-101/X-555/X-55.
• 3 out of 3 ‘Kalibr’ cruise missiles.

The mass rocket attack on Ukraine on January 2 was one of the most powerful, causing destruction of residential buildings, infrastructure damage, casualties, and fires in the capital. Several districts, including Obolonsky, Podolsky, Holosiyivsky, and Solomiansky, were heavily affected. The situation is continuously developing, and rescue operations are ongoing.

Photo: Getty Images