Russia unleashed a series of aerial attacks on Ukraine early Tuesday, targeting Kyiv and multiple other regions with missiles and drones.
Ukraine’s air force identified a ballistic missile threat at 3:00 a.m. (0100 GMT), with explosions heard in the capital moments later.
A second missile alert was issued around 8:00 a.m., followed by at least one explosion in Kyiv. According to local authorities, missile fragments landed in the Darnytskyi district, though no injuries or damages were reported.
In the northeastern Sumy region, strikes were reported near Shostka. Mayor Mykola Noha revealed that 12 residential buildings and two educational institutions sustained damage, while some “social infrastructure objects” were destroyed, though specifics were not disclosed.
Ukraine’s air force also confirmed that missiles and drones struck various other regions across the country.
The Russian Defense Ministry stated that its forces had successfully targeted a Ukrainian air base and a gunpowder factory.
The war has taken a heavy toll on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, with about half of it destroyed. Regular electricity outages remain a challenge, despite Western allies providing air defense systems to bolster Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.
Russia has adopted a strategy of overwhelming these defenses by deploying large-scale coordinated strikes with missiles and drones.
The conflict’s future remains uncertain, particularly as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office next month.
Trump has pledged to bring the war to an end, casting doubt on whether U.S. military support for Ukraine will continue. In contrast, President Joe Biden announced on Monday a $2.5 billion weapons package to aid Ukraine, aiming to allocate available resources before Trump’s inauguration.
Throughout the year, Ukraine has retaliated with its own drone and missile strikes on Russian targets. On Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses intercepted 68 Ukrainian drones across several regions.
In western Russia’s Smolensk region, debris from downed drones ignited a fire at an oil depot, according to Governor Vasily Anokhin.
In Crimea, which is under Russian control, Moscow-appointed Sevastopol leader Mikhail Razvozhayev confirmed that Russian forces neutralized four aerial drones attacking the city and destroyed two uncrewed boats near the coastline.
A new milestone in Ukraine’s military strategy was highlighted by its Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR), which announced that a naval drone had successfully shot down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter using an R-73 missile near Cape Tarkhankut in Crimea.
The incident marked the first recorded destruction of an aerial target by an uncrewed vessel. Another helicopter was damaged but managed to land at a nearby airfield, according to GUR.
This year, Russia has gained momentum on the battlefield, pushing through Ukrainian defenses in the east with a series of measured offensives.
However, Ukraine staged a significant operation in August, penetrating Russia’s Kursk region. The surprise attack dealt a blow to Moscow’s reputation.
Though Russian forces reclaimed some territory, they have not entirely expelled Ukrainian troops from the area.
