Russia launches another barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine

Kyiv
CNN
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Russia launched another major barrage of missiles and drones against Ukraine on Saturday The fourth attack of its kind Since December 29, amid fears that Moscow is trying to overcome Ukrainian air defense.

The Russian offensive consists of 40 offensive weapons, including cruise, ballistic, ballistic, aircraft, and anti-aircraft guided missiles, as well as drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.

The Ukrainian Air Force said that Ukraine was able to shoot down eight missiles. Additionally, they stated that “more than 20 air assault weapons did not reach their targets due to extensive electronic warfare countermeasures.”

Warnings and air defenses were activated across the country. There were impacts in several areas, including: Chernihiv city In northern Ukraine and Dnipro in the east.

In Chernihiv, missile fragments caused damage to unoccupied civilian residential buildings in the city, according to police.

“Fragments of an enemy missile caused destruction in a private residential area of ​​Chernihiv. Fortunately, no one was injured,” the police wrote in a telegram.

The local mayor said that the area had suffered damage previously and that there were no civilian casualties.

In Dnipro, there were incoming strikes in the city, according to the head of the Dnipropetrovsk Region Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak.

“We are now determining the extent of the damage caused by the strikes. However, people are always the priority. Fortunately, everyone is safe,” Lesak wrote on Telegram.

The Russian Defense Ministry said that the aerial bombardment on Saturday “achieved” its goal and hit facilities of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex.

Saturday's attacks are the fourth largest since Russia began large-scale attacks across the country on December 29.

Analysts say the latest Russian missile attack is aimed at increasing the burden on Ukraine's limited missile defense.

In a previous attack on January 7, Ukraine was only able to shoot down 18 of the 59 missiles fired.

The Russian military is also using new tactics as part of its air campaign, such as painting its Iranian-made drones black and camouflaging them in the night sky.

Another tactic, a Ukrainian unit told CNN, is to move the engine exhaust of some drones from the back to the front, in an attempt to confuse the anti-air batteries with thermal sights.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday that the country is far from having comprehensive air cover.

“We lack Patriot systems, we lack suitable systems with different ranges. It comes little by little. Something is on its way. We agreed on something new. However, we still lack suitable systems that specifically combat ballistic missiles, for example.”

Ukraine relies on mobile air defense firing squads to shoot down drones as its stock of anti-aircraft missiles declines.

“They are now the primary unit that destroys enemy drones. We are counting on them to be able to rescue anti-aircraft guided missiles, which are… “It is very rare for us with such massive attacks.”