Victorious news of 309th day of war: Ukrainian air defense shoots down 80% of Russian missiles, Britain to allocate billions to Ukraine

Espreso has prepared a selection of news that sets the mood for victory.

About 80% of Russian missiles have been destroyed

On the morning of December 29, the Russian aggressor launched air and sea-based cruise missiles against Ukraine's energy infrastructure. 

Explosions were reported in Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Kharkiv and many other places. Ukraine's Armed Forces destroyed 54 Kalibr missiles and 11 Shahed drones. The spokesman of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yurii Ihnat, said on Espreso that the 80% shot down statistic also includes launched missiles, which the Ukrainian Air Defense Forces cannot eliminate due to the lack of the necessary means for this. In particular, it concerns Kh-22, Kh-31 or S-300 missiles.

As Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal emphasized, the massive missile attack on Ukraine on December 29 was aimed at leaving people without electricity for the New Year.  The enemy had been preparing for it for two weeks. Instead, Ukraine's Armed Forces announced even more explosions in Russia in 2023.

Money for Ukraine

The European Commission is investing EUR 100 million in the reconstruction of Ukrainian schools. They will also send school buses, collect and deliver laptops so that students can continue their studies, said the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

Considerable financial aid will come to Ukraine from the UK. Minister Ben Wallace announced that the UK will allocate GBP 2.3 billion in aid to Ukraine in 2023.

“Another £2.3bn of support next year, and in this we will make sure they have the weapons systems they need. The UK will help buy them from other countries around the world. We will provide them with weapons systems that match their Soviet era,” the minister noted. According to Wallace, the UK is providing its knowledge and experience to ensure better air defense on the ground and is doing everything possible so that Ukraine can repel Russian forces.

Destroyed occupiers and the Ukrainian Armed Forces' approach to Kreminna

Over 50 occupiers were eliminated during the day as a result of fire damage by the Ukrainian Defense Forces' units in the Berdiansk area in the Zaporizhzhia region, the General Staff reports.

Ukrainian aviation launched 12 strikes on the areas where the Russian forces were concentrated and struck the position of the enemy's anti-aircraft missile system. During the current day, Ukrainian artillerymen hit 4 Russian control points and 3 military positions. 

In particular, Ukraine's Armed Forces approached Kreminna. The Russian troops are preparing to defend themselves near Luhansk, said the Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Department of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff, Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov.