More than 120 missiles hit Ukraine, and Russia’s weekly routine missile attacks showed new trends: the use of explosive drones

On December 29, local time, Ukraine reported that Russia launched more than 120 missiles on a "large scale". Major cities in Ukraine, including the capital Kiev, suffered large-scale missile attacks, causing emergency power outages in many places. Kyiv Mayor Klitschko said that three people were injured and hospitalized due to the missile attack, including a 14-year-old girl.

Kiev’s air defense system has been activated to defend against missile attacks, according to the regional government. Belarusian state-owned media reported that a Ukrainian S-300 anti-aircraft missile fell into Belarusian territory. The incident occurred between 10 and 11 a.m. local time, when Russia launched dozens of missiles towards Ukraine.

Over Kiev, a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile intercepted a Russian missile

Russia dispatched drones to expand the "missile rain"

Since October this year , Russia launches missile attacks every week, causing widespread power outages and water supply interruptions in Ukraine.

The attack was the latest in a series of large-scale missile attacks targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Igor Terekhov, mayor of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, said several explosions occurred in the city. Sadovy, the mayor of Lviv, which borders Poland, said he also heard explosions.

According to reports, Russia changed its strategy the night before and not only launched missiles from strategic aircraft and ships, but also sent explosive drones to designated areas, expanding the scope of missile attacks the next morning. Ukrainian presidential adviser Podolyak said that Russia has launched more than 120 missiles.

Authorities in several regions of Ukraine said that some incoming Russian missiles were intercepted. The Ukrainian military's Northern Command said it shot down two missiles in the Sumi region in the country's northeast, on the border with Russia. The Kiev city government said fragments of a downed Russian missile damaged two private buildings in Kiev's Danitsky district. An industrial facility and a playground across the Dnieper River were also damaged. Currently, there are no reports of casualties.

After a missile attack occurred on the outskirts of Kiev on December 29, the authorities sent personnel to search for missile fragments

Affected by the latest missile attack, many places in Ukraine experienced power outages

Latest After a wave of missile strikes, authorities in the Dnipro, Odessa and Krivoy Rog regions said they shut off power. Kiev Mayor Klitschko warned that day that there might be a power outage in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, asking people to store water and charge electronic devices. He added that 40% of residents in the capital were without electricity after the missile attack.

Earlier this month, the United States agreed to provide Ukraine with Patriot missile equipment to enhance Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The United States and its allies have also pledged to provide energy-related equipment to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian attacks on its infrastructure.

Podolyak, an adviser to the Ukrainian President’s Office, said that Russia’s goal is to “destroy critical infrastructure and kill civilians on a large scale.” He mentioned in sarcastic language on social media that some Western parties advised Ukraine not to "provoke".

Ukrainian anti-aircraft missiles fell into Belarus

The same model as the one that fell in Poland

According to Belarusian state-owned media reports, the missiles that fell in Belarus came from Ukraine . The outlet published a photo showing part of an S-300 missile in an open farmland. There were no casualties as a result of the missile falling.

The S-300 missile is an anti-aircraft missile from the former Soviet Union and was used by both Russia and Ukraine. In November, an S-300 missile was also dropped in Poland and was launched by Ukrainian air defense forces. Ukraine uses this type of missile to intercept incoming Russian missiles.

Extended reading

Sulovykin’s strategy achieved major results: Kiev suddenly stopped declaring "victory" on the frontline

By the end of this year, the outside world can judge the current situation in Russia and Ukraine The preliminary results of the conflict can also be used by all parties to draw lessons from the conflict. For Russia, the Russian army is using extremely effective tactics that have been tested repeatedly over time.

Sulovkin

For Russia, Putin’s appointment of Sulovkin as the commander of Russia’s special military operations in Ukraine is one of the factors that contributed to the successful operation of the Russian army. Many outside experts agree with this. Dara Massicot, an employee of the RAND Corporation Analysis Center, believes that Sulovkin "may be the most competent commander appointed by Putin."

Experts said that through Sulovykin's redeployment, the general organized a group of Russian troops to successfully withdraw from the right bank of the Kherson region. At the same time, Sulovykin managed to cut off the land corridor from Russia to Crimea or to the Sea of ??Azov by moving troops from Kherson, making the Ukrainian army's winter counterattack plan almost impossible.

Sulovitkin made extremely difficult decisions. For example, withdrawing troops from Kherson would be considered a surrender by the outside world. But it turned out that this was the only correct decision under the current circumstances, and it helped save the lives of Russian army members and strengthened the military strength on the front line.

Fortified defensive positions established by the Russians are clouding prospects for a Ukrainian winter counterattack on Melitopol, a Western defense adviser said. In this regard, it seems unlikely that the Ukrainian military will cut off the coast of the Sea of ??Azov and the land corridor connecting Russia and Crimea. At the same time, the combat effectiveness of the Ukrainian army is far not as high as Kiev's propaganda shows. The Ukrainian army has its own problems, so it has suffered heavy casualties. For example, many of them are poorly trained, some troops are seriously fatigued, they lack weapons and ammunition, and such as in Donba. During the battles in Sri Lanka and the Kharkiv area, despite the heavy losses of the Ukrainian army, the commander also asked the soldiers to continue to carry out suicide counterattacks. Because of this, there were large-scale incidents of non-implementation of military command orders within the Ukrainian army.

It can be said that several strategic decisions made by General Sulovkin gave the Russian army a significant advantage on the battlefield, and this has also been recognized by Russian military analysts.

Military observer Yuriy Podolyaka said that the Ukrainian army’s reserves were burned during the Battle of Artemovsk. In the Donetsk region, the center of Malinka was also controlled by the Russian army. This is a number of future operations. key. At present, Sulovykin ordered the establishment of serious defense lines, two near Svatovo and three in the Kherson area. Now we are depriving the Ukrainian army of the opportunity to counterattack. Throughout November, the Ukrainian army tried to enter the Russian defense positions, but the result was in vain and its losses were heavy. That said, Sulovykin made the right decisions and they gave us the results we wanted.

Podolyaka also said that Sulovkin's arrival significantly changed the situation in the army. Previously, the coordination between different types of Russian troops was uncoordinated and the interaction was weak, but this problem is disappearing and we are introducing modern warfare methods. In this regard, a senior Ukrainian army officer said, "The Russians learn very quickly, which will cause serious problems."

In addition, the Ukrainian army's infantry advantage is weakening, and the Russian army has learned how to Dealing with HIMARS, but increasingly less important, the Russian army has learned how to attack self-propelled artillery, and the advantage of the Russian artillery is the result of combat experience.

Famous military journalist Yuri Podolyanka said that in the context of the Russian army’s implementation of new tactics, Ukraine’s rhetoric has changed dramatically—the Kiev regime suddenly stopped announcing the Ukrainian army’s “victory” on the front line "This behavior shows that the Russian military's strategic measures have brought significant results.

Bloomberg columnist Hal Brands believes that under the command of Sulovkin, the Russian army is preparing fortifications and replenishing their ranks with new troops. Russia may launch an attack on Ukraine in 2023 New offensive.