This morning, 29^th December 2022, Russia carried out a large scale attack on Ukraine. It launched over 120 cruise missiles, coming from various directions, and using ground, air and sea platforms for rocket launchers. They targeted various facilities in different cities. The rocket attacks followed a drone attack, which took place during the previous night. They were directed at several Ukrainian areas, including Kyiv. This latest attack is one of many, that are aimed at damaging Ukraine’s national infrastructure.

In this context, the alarms sounded from Kyiv to Odesa, the port-city in southern Ukraine, situated close to Romania.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-64114784

We must notice the fact that this massive Russian air raid took place at a time when Russia still exerts control – partial or complete – over some Ukrainian territories. The timing coincides with Ukraine’s Armed Forces regaining some territories, as one can well see in the picture above.

Several explosions took place in Kharkiv, in north-eastern Ukraine, the second largest city in the country, Lviv, in western Ukraine, next to the Polish border, and Zhytomyr.

Ukrainian authorities from various regions stated that some Russian missiles had been intercepted, five were taken down over the Black Sea, and two over Sumy, near the Russian border, in the north-east of the country.

According to local Ukrainian leaders, 16 missiles were destroyed over Kyiv, 21 over Odesa and 5 in the southern part of Mykolaiv.

Because of the attacks that took place in numerous cities, the water and power supplies were cut off. The public transportation was stopped.

At least three people – including a 14 years old girl – were taken to the hospital, after some of the missiles hit Kyiv.

The fragments that came from destroyed missiles hit two private buildings in the Darnytskyi district, in Kyiv. An industrial installation and a children’s playground’, located in the neighbourhoods beyond the River Dnieper were also affected by the blast. No victims were reported.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine is the most recent, in a series that are aimed at the vital infrastructure of the country. We must notice that Russia launched these strikes every week since October, causing large scale interruptions of the water and power supplies, in several Ukrainian regions.

As a conclusion, we can safely say that despite the fact that a significant number of Russian missiles and drones were taken down – weapons that were aimed mostly at civilian facilities in various cities in Ukraine – some did reach their target, seriously damaging the Ukrainian infrastructure, and causing the population a lot of suffering, especially when it is winter and the temperatures are low.