As temperatures drop, missile attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure intensify. During the morning of January 2, the Russian air offensive pounded in particular the city of Kiev, as well as the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
As reported by the Ukrainian Air Force on its social networks, the Russian Armed Forces conducted a massive airstrike against Kiev, similar to that of December 29, 2023. Critical infrastructure facilities and civilian and military-industrial facilities were targeted.
The first action was the launch of a wave of Shahed-136/Geran-2 kamikaze drones, which came from the southeastern direction. The Ukrainians claimed credit for the destruction of 35 of these UAVs.
– 10 out of 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles;
– 59 out of 70 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles;
– 3 out of 3 Kalibr cruise missiles.
???????????? pic.twitter.com/9s5hNDKkjF— Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) January 2, 2024
Then, around 6 AM, 16 Tu-95MS “Bear” bombers of the Russian Strategic Aviation launched at least 70 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles. Ukrainian air defense is credited with shooting down 59 of them.
At 7:30 AM, ten MiG-31Ks reportedly launched Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles. Ukrainian sources claim that they shot down all of these missiles. However, there is evidence that at least one Kinzhal hit its target.
Russia also reportedly attacked from the Black Sea with three Kalibr cruise missiles, and from the north with 12 Iskander-M/S-300/S-400 missiles.
Su-35S aircraft reportedly fired four Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles at Ukrainian radars.
January 2, 2024. Another attack by Russian savages. Almost a hundred missiles of various types. At least 70 missiles were shot down. Nearly 60 of them were intercepted in the Kyiv area. There were also severe strikes on Kharkiv. Work is now being done to eliminate the… pic.twitter.com/Wva4nuaMtp
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 2, 2024
Always according to the Ukrainian Air Force, for the attack against Kiev, Russia used 99 air strike weapons, including missiles of various types and drones, 72 of which were destroyed by the air defense, being:
- 10 X-47M2 “Kinzhal” aeroballistic missiles
- 59 X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles
- 3 Kalibr cruise missiles
Half Kiev without power
Unofficial sources claim that several targets were hit, as a result of which part of Ukraine’s capital city was without power supply. Water supply and communications were also affected in some areas of the city.
????????????????‼️???? BREAKING: Missile attack!
Kiev is partially de-energized after the strikes, Kharkov is also under a massive missile attack
– Klitschko confirmed that some of the facilities and residential buildings in Kyiv were de-energized.
– There are severe fires in several areas… pic.twitter.com/wYJ6Trdsd5
— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) January 2, 2024
Images from open sources show impacts on the Mayak weapons factory, the Radioizmeritel company plant (aeronautical equipment and electronics) and the former main workshop of the Kvazar factory (integrated circuits and military hardware). The cruise missile attacks appear to have been spread across the electrical infrastructure and facilities of the Ukrainian industrial/military complex.
There are also reports that several Ukrainian air defense systems were hit by Russian missiles, probably by Kh-31P anti-radar missiles launched by Su-35S. If confirmed, it would be a major setback for Kiev, as air defense systems are one of the most precious assets for the defenders, and their heavy deployment is the only thing that is preventing Russia from complete domination of the skies.
