Ukraine intercepts 113 out of 184 Russian air targets in massive attack

The attack targeted energy facilities in Kharkiv, Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Zaporizhzhya oblasts, resulting in damage to infrastructure.

In total, 184 air targets were detected:

• Two ballistic missiles KN-23 (launched from Voronezh Oblast)
• 10 guided air-to-surface missiles S-300/S-400 (launched from Belgorod Oblast)
• 12 cruise missiles Kalibr (launched from the Black Sea)
• 50 cruise missiles Kh-101/Kh-55sm from strategic bombers Tu-95MS (launched from Volgograd Oblast and the Caspian Sea)
• Four guided air-to-surface missiles Kh-59/Kh-69 from tactical aircraft (launched from Belgorod Oblast)
• 106 Shahed strike drones/drone decoys of various types (launched from Bryansk, Millerovo, Oryol, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk)

As of 12:00 p.m., the destruction of 113 air targets was confirmed:

• 55 cruise missiles Kh-101, Kh-55sm, Kalibr
• Four guided air-to-surface missiles Kh-59/Kh-69
• 54 Shahed strike drones/drone decoys of various types, with an additional 52 failing to reach their targets (lost from radars)

The attacks were repelled by air defense missile units, electronic warfare assets, and mobile fire groups.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that one of the missiles entered Ukrainian airspace from Moldova's airspace, traveling approximately 140 kilometers through Moldovan and Romanian territories. Moldovan President Maia Sandu confirmed the violation of Moldova's airspace. Meanwhile, the Romanian Ministry of Defense stated that it did not detect any air targets.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia launched more than 70 missiles, including ballistic missiles, and over 100 strike drones. The president noted that Russian dictator Putin deliberately chose Christmas for the attack.

The state-owned energy company Ukrenergo implemented emergency power outages due to the missile and drone attack. Minister of Energy German Halushchenko stated that the Russian troops had again launched a massive attack on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. DTEK reported that the company's equipment was severely damaged due to Russian strikes on thermal power plants. A 51-year-old energy worker was killed at one of the power plants.