Hundreds of mobile fire groups protect Ukraine’s critical infrastructure — National Guard

He highlighted the relentless efforts of Ukraine’s defenders in protecting the nation’s skies amidst ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks.

“Of these, around 500 are mobile fire teams, while the rest are stationary," Pivnenko said.

"We are improving the quality of work for mobile fire teams and counting on their efficiency.”

He also stressed the U.S. role as it helps Ukraine in bolstering its defenses against Russian strikes on critical infrastructure.

“We’ve already received the first vehicles equipped with specialized equipment. We are testing this system and will pass it on to training centers," he added.

"Foreign partners are also providing us with long-range detection radars for targeting Shahed drones.”

National Guard fire teams are integral to the success of the air defense system managed by the Ukrainian Air Force.

“These teams are equipped with tablets showing real-time tracking of incoming threats," he noted. "Their efficiency is improving despite challenges such as weather conditions and varying drone altitudes. This, in turn, enhances the level of protection for our infrastructure.”

Recent air defense efforts against Russian attacks

On the night of Dec. 26-27, Russia launched 24 Shahed-131/136 drones and two Iskander-M ballistic missiles at Ukraine. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 13 drones, while 11 failed to reach their targets.

Russian missiles were reportedly launched from Voronezh and Kursk oblasts, the drones - from Oryol, Bryansk, and Millerovo directions.

The air defense response included anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire teams from the Air Force and Ukrainian Defense Forces.

Ukrainian air defenses successfully operated in multiple oblasts, including Poltava, Sumy, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kirovohrad, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk.