Russia uses two months stock of Kh-101 missiles in massive attack on Ukraine. Weekly military results

The December 29 attack on Ukraine was the combined, massive, and most intense attack this year. The Russian forces used 90 Kh-101 missiles. At a production rate of 40 per month, Russia used a two-month stock of these missiles

Results of the massive attack on Ukraine

The attack was the most complex in terms of Russia's use of various means of destruction. In total, 158 missiles and drones were used, of which 114 were shot down, i.e. 72%, which indicates a high performance of Ukraine's air defense.

The complexity of the attack for the Ukrainian air defense system was that there were targets in the air in almost all regions, moving at different speeds. There was a significant number of missiles for various purposes launched from 18 bombers. There were 36 Shahed drones, 14 S-400, S-300, Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 8 Kh-22, Kh-23 missiles, and 5 Kinzhal missiles.

Kh-101 missiles are still the most expensive element of the Russian military arsenal. They tried to direct them to strike military or industrial facilities. As for the strike on Kyiv, in the Lukianivska metro area, eyewitnesses say they saw a missile that looked like it was being fired on by a machine gun. Later it turned out that it was a missile flying into this area and shooting "decoy flares" with great intensity. These "flares" appeared in missiles only this year. So, in fact, these are new modified Kh-101 missiles, and the "decoy flares" are used to prevent Ukraine's military from shooting them down with MANPADS or systems with heat-seeking homing heads.

The task for each missile is prepared within two weeks. Russia is likely to evaluate the results of its actions, later reorganize again and look for even more insidious options to attack Ukrainian cities. Ukraine's air defense system is also preparing for this. Russia's main goal is to destroy Ukraine as a state and Ukrainians as its citizens.

Situation at the front - Avdiivka

Russia's active offensive near Avdiivka has been going on since October 9. We understand that the presence of the president is a good sign. However, the planned measures to prepare for defense, to implement fortification measures, should have been taken earlier. Now there are a significant number of units there that prevent the Russian enemy from ensuring the convergence of pincer movements from the north and south. Despite all Russia's forces on this section of the front, its advance along the entire perimeter is minimal.

This direction is a priority for Russia and is important in a political and military sense. Therefore, the Russians spare no effort in deploying forces and equipment to attack Stepove, Avdiivka Coke Plant, the industrial zone, and Sieverne. These attacks continue, but there have been no major changes in recent days. Soldiers from this area say that it is extremely difficult, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces have all the forces and means to destroy the Russian enemy.

The president's visit amid political tasks will mean that there will be an additional strengthening of forces and means in this area. Therefore, in any case, Russia will not capture Avdiivka. Although, according to Zaluzhnyi, if the Ukrainian army has no place to defend itself, Ukraine will not put the defense of the territory above the lives of the soldiers.

Marinka

Russia entered the ruins of Marinka. The invading Russian troops are completely destroying the buildings, and it was extremely difficult to hold the defense there. Now the Russian forces are trying to use the situation to fulfill their main idea. The goal here is to push Ukrainian forces, which are located from Marinka to Vuhledar, east of the road between Marinka and Vuhledar. This is the main focus of efforts. Russia is trying to put pressure on Pobieda and Novomykhailivka from different directions.

They are also trying to move from Marinka to the west, towards Heorhiivka. In other words, the Russian troops are trying to push Ukraine's defense in all these directions to create conditions for an attack on Vuhledar from different directions.

Access to Vuhledar is important for them. Russia wants to secure the transportation route that runs from Volnovakha to the west to Melitopol. All of these actions make sense to them from the point of view of military logic, but the question is the forces and means they are trying to use in these areas.

In and around Marinka, the Russian army is trying to expand its zone of influence. Ukrainian forces and units are using artillery to restrain this advance.

Robotyne

Ukraine's penetration into Russia's defense line constitutes a bridgehead, relatively speaking, 10 by 10 kilometers. General Tarnavskyi said that Russia is now trying to replay the fighting results and regain what it has lost. Using these two airborne assault divisions, Russia is trying to create threats to Ukraine's brigades holding the line from the west and east, by attacking Robotyne and Verbove.

There are certain Russian advances, in particular towards Robotyne and from Verbove, within one or two forest strips. Russia is still trying to put pressure to ensure these flanking attacks on the area where the Ukrainian military are present. The situation is complicated and difficult, but everything will depend on the forces and means used by the command in this area. Ukraine must not allow the Russian troops to advance further.