Russian Missile and Drone Attacks Hit Kyiv and Odesa as Ukraine Faces Air Defense Shortages

Russia launched ballistic missiles and dozens of jet-powered drones at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine, as Moscow tries to pressure the country through round-the-clock attacks. The new jet-powered drones fly too fast and too high for Ukrainian ground-based air defenses to shoot down. Ukraine is trying to build faster interceptor drones to catch up, but making and deploying these new weapons takes months.

Attacks and Damage

Russia's ballistic missiles also bypassed defenses because Ukraine is running very low on US-made Patriot interceptor missiles, which are the main reliable way to stop ballistic attacks. Ukraine's air defenses did shoot down two ballistic missiles overnight, suggesting Kyiv recently received a few more Patriots. The Russian Defence Ministry stated that its forces hit data processing centers used by the military, drone and cruise missile storage facilities, an electrical substation, a drone factory, and port infrastructure in the Odesa region. Ukrainian officials reported that the barrage hit apartment buildings, houses, and public transport in Kyiv, wounding one person. In Odesa, overnight attacks wounded eight people and damaged homes, civilian infrastructure, a school, an animal shelter, and port infrastructure.

Response and Troops

Ukraine has hit back with its own long-range drones, targeting Russian missile and drone manufacturing plants, launch sites, and oil refineries to cause fuel shortages. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Moscow plans to increase recruitment for another battlefield push and that another 10,000 North Korean troops are heading to Russia, adding to the 8,000 already there.

Context

These ongoing air attacks often intensify as bitter winter weather approaches, targeting power grids to cut off civilian heating and water. The conflict remains largely deadlocked along the front lines in eastern and southern Ukraine.