Victorious news on 678th day of war: Ukrainian air defense destroys record number of Kinzhal missiles, incredible story of rescuing captured soldier with drone

Air defense systems shot down 10 out of 10 Kinzhal air-ballistic missiles 

During a massive missile attack on January 2, air defense systems shot down 10 out of 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles. This is a record result, said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhnyi. In total, the air defense forces shot down 72 of the 99 missiles fired by Russia during the massive attack. However, it is important that the air defenses managed to destroy all Kinzhal missiles. These missiles are the fastest in the Russian arsenal and can fly at hypersonic speeds (Russia claims that they are 10 times faster than sound, i.e. over 10,000 km/h, but experts have doubts about this) and can also maneuver in flight. Because of its speed and maneuverability, this missile is difficult to shoot down by air defenses. 

Some Russian military bloggers have called the Kh-47M2 impossible to shoot down. However, when the Patriot air defense system appeared in Ukraine, it turned out that this “no analogues" missile could be intercepted. The first time the Patriot system shot down a Kinzhal missile was on May 4, 2023. 

Boy is born in shelter of maternity hospital during massive missile attack 

During a Russian missile attack on January 2, a baby was born in the shelter of the maternity ward of the intensive care hospital in Boyarka, Kyiv region 

This was announced by the head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration Ruslan Kravchenko. "Life goes on despite all the Russian attacks. During a rocket attack, a baby was born in the shelter of the maternity ward of the Boyarka intensive care hospital. A boy weighing 3,500 grams. I wish the mother and baby health! And to grow up in a peaceful country. Ukraine and Ukrainians will survive, no matter how hard the Russian occupier tries to destroy us," he wrote. 

Drone operator of 95th Brigade was able to rescue captured soldier remotely 

The operators of the 95th Brigade used drones to help a neighboring unit repel a Russian assault that had almost captured their trench and even captured a Ukrainian soldier. This was reported by the Ukrainian Armed Forces Strategic Command. As you can see in the video, the Russian enemy even managed to tie up the Ukrainian soldier. However, he was able to untie his hands, and the pilot used a drone to show him the direction. As the soldier was leaving, he ran into the enemy. Then the operator dropped the last grenade from the drone on the Russian soldier, and the Ukrainian soldier was able to get to his position.

Head of Bundestag's Defense Committee calls for immediate delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine  

The chair of the Bundestag Defense Committee, representative of the Free Democratic Party, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, criticized the slow supply of weapons to Ukraine amid another massive missile attack by the Russian Federation

"Ukraine needs more ammunition, more spare parts, and the Taurus should be sent immediately to make it more difficult for Russia to resupply," she said in a commentary for the t-online portal. 

"And the much-publicized European F-16 coalition needs to come on stream much sooner if we are to counter Russian air superiority. Putin is counting on us being afraid of our own bravery. And he is obviously right. This hesitation is very bitter," the German MP added. 

Russia's newest artillery reconnaissance system destroyed in Kherson region

Ukrainian forces in the Kherson region destroyed the Yastreb-AV counter-battery radar system, which the Russian army had just received. This was reported by the Ukrainian military Telegram channel.

"Only today, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Russian army had received the 1K148 Yastreb-AV artillery reconnaissance system, and today the Ukrainian army provided video, confirming its destruction in the Kherson region," the military said.  

Testing of this system was completed only in 2022.

"The radar complex with phased array antennas is capable of automatically tracking the trajectory of shells fired by adversary's artillery, determining the exact coordinates of positions. "According to preliminary estimates, its cost could reach $250 million," the statement said. "Anti-battery radars detect a missile or shell directly and calculate it from several points along the trajectory, determining both the location of the enemy's firing position and the place where the shell fell.