Russia unleashed a heavy aerial assault on Ukraine, targeting Kyiv and other regions with a barrage of missiles and drones. Ukraine’s air force reported on Tuesday that it intercepted six of the 21 missiles launched overnight. Additionally, 40 drones were deployed by Russia, of which Ukrainian air defenses shot down 16, while 24 failed to hit their targets.
The attacks began early in the morning, with a ballistic missile threat detected around 3:00 am (01:00 GMT), followed by explosions in Kyiv and other areas. Another alert at 8:00 am (06:00 GMT) was followed by at least one explosion in the capital, where missile debris fell in the Darnytskyi district. Authorities reported no casualties or significant damage in Kyiv.
In the northeastern Sumy region, near Shostka, 12 residential buildings and two educational facilities were damaged. Mayor Mykola Noha also confirmed the destruction of some social infrastructure. Other regions across Ukraine faced simultaneous missile and drone strikes, adding to the chaos.
In a significant counteroffensive, Ukraine’s military intelligence announced that its Magura V5 maritime drone had successfully destroyed a Russian Mi-8 helicopter and damaged another in the Black Sea. This marked the first instance of a Ukrainian naval drone taking down an air target, according to the GUR spy agency.
While Russia remained silent on the incident, its appointed governor in Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhaev, reported that Russian defenses had destroyed two sea drones and four aerial drones targeting the city. Russia’s Ministry of Defence stated that it intercepted a total of 68 Ukrainian drones across several regions.
The ongoing war, now approaching its third year, has drawn international attention as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Trump has vowed to end the war, raising concerns about the future of U.S. military aid to Ukraine. In a last effort, President Joe Biden announced an additional $2.5 billion in weaponry for Ukraine before Trump’s term begins.
Since the conflict began in February 2022, nearly half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed. Western allies have provided air defense systems to bolster Ukraine’s defenses, but Russia continues to employ large-scale, coordinated strikes with missiles and drones.
In 2024, Russian forces advanced 3,985 square kilometers (1,539 square miles) in Ukraine, a significant increase compared to the previous year. Most of this progress occurred in October and November, making them the most active months since the early stages of the war in 2022.