Ukrainian soldiers at the front. Photo: 110th Mechanised Brigade on Twitter / Defence of Ukraine

On the night of 5 January, Russian troops launched a large-scale attack on Ukrainian territory, launching 103 Shahed attack drones and imitation drones of various models. The Ukrainian Air Force reports that 61 drones were destroyed, while 42 are considered to be lost in the area.

Details of the attack

• Type of drones: The bulk of the drones used were Shahed-type strike drones, known for their ability to deliver devastating attacks on infrastructure. Imitators of other models were also used.
• Scale of the attack: This is one of the most massive drone attacks in recent times, covering several regions of Ukraine.
• Air defence performance: Thanks to the coordinated operation of air defence systems, more than half of the targets launched were neutralised.

The Air Force noted that the attack was aimed at both critical infrastructure and civilian targets. Thanks to modern air defence systems and operational coordination, the consequences of the attack were minimised.

“The enemy continues its tactics of massive drone attacks to deplete our defences and create chaos. At the same time, we are improving our defences, which allows us to effectively counteract the aggression,” the Air Force headquarters said.

Massive drone attacks remain one of Russia’s key tools in its war against Ukraine. The strikes target energy, logistics and infrastructure facilities. The use of Shahed drones supplied by Iran has become a common practice of the occupiers.

Ukraine, for its part, is actively modernising its air defence capabilities thanks to international support and its own developments, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of enemy attacks.