Russia has likely moved on to a broader campaign targeting Ukraine's energy sector. Ukrainian air defense coped with the enemy attack.
British intelligence recalled that on December 8, the Russians launched a wave of powerful attacks on Kyiv and central Ukraine using heavy bombers for the first time since September 2023.
As noted by the British Ministry of Defense, these aircraft, believed to be Tu-95s, launched at least 16 air-launched cruise missiles from their typical operating area over the Caspian Sea. These were X-101 missiles (in NATO countries they call them AS-23a KODIAK).
“This was likely the start of a more coordinated Russian campaign aimed at destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” the summary said.
But, as intelligence adds, most of these missiles were successfully intercepted by Ukrainian air defense. And although there was a casualty in the Russian attack, the damage was minimal.
