After an 80-day hiatus, Russia resumed hostilities by launching a barrage of cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets. The air raid in Kyiv lasted nearly two hours, with air defenses successfully intercepting all missiles aimed at the capital. While some homes suffered damage, no casualties were reported in Kyiv. In Pavlohrad, one fatality and four injuries occurred due to a missile strike, and in the eastern Kharkiv region, strikes claimed one life and left several others injured, with damage reported in Kupiansk district and Kharkiv city.
The missile barrage, consisting of 19 missiles across Ukraine, marked the first such attack in over two months. Western intelligence assessments had warned of a potential escalation in Russia’s bombardment of civilian infrastructure during the winter. Of the 19 missiles launched, 14 were reportedly destroyed in the Kyiv and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
The attack involved Tu-95MS strategic aircraft launching cruise missiles of the Kh-101/555/55 type from the Engels city area, Saratov region. The last significant cruise missile attack on Ukraine occurred on September 21, with 43 missiles launched and 36 intercepted. In November, Russia launched a major drone attack with 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones, followed by another 48 Shaheds.
Despite improved Ukrainian defenses this winter, concerns were raised in November that Russia might deploy a combination of missiles and drones to target Ukrainian infrastructure. Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Deputy Chief had cautioned that Russia’s strikes would be more sophisticated than the previous year’s primitive attacks.
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