How Ukraine repelled Russia’s Christmas Day attack with over 170 missiles, drones

Defense Express analyzed Ukraine’s rebuttal against Russia’s most recent attack.

Today, December 25, Russia carried out another combined attack using ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones. The targets were critical infrastructure, with the goal of plunging Ukraine into darkness.

Russia used a total of 184 long-range strike means, including 50 Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles, 12 Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles, 4 guided Kh-59/69 missiles, 2 KN-23 ballistic missiles, 10 anti-aircraft missiles from the S-300/400 systems, and 106 long-range drones and decoys. Some of the missiles flew over Moldova, confirmed by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, while Ukraine's Air Force reported they also crossed over Romania.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, 59 cruise and guided missiles, or 89%, were destroyed. Of the drones, 54 were shot down and 52 neutralized through electronic countermeasures, eliminating all 106. Ballistic and anti-aircraft missiles could not be intercepted.

Regarding the aftermath, local authorities and officials reported the following: one of the strikes targeted a thermal power plant in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, leaving part of the area without electricity. As of 11:30 AM, Ukraine’s Emergency Services confirmed a fire at a critical infrastructure facility was extinguished with the help of 114 rescuers and 36 units of equipment.

The national energy company Ukrenergo reported the implementation of power consumption limits, which will remain in place throughout the day until repairs are completed.

In Dnipropetrovsk region, one person was killed. In Dnipro city, some facilities were damaged, but Mayor Borys Filatov noted that preemptive preparations prevented worse consequences.

In Poltava region, energy infrastructure was damaged, leading to temporary blackouts in Kremenchuk district. In Kyiv region, debris damaged several private houses and cars in two districts. In Kharkiv, about 10 strikes damaged non-residential civilian infrastructure, injuring one person. In Kirovohrad region, a fire at a warehouse was extinguished.