In the early hours of Saturday, the Russians used a new tactic of mixed attacks when shelling Ukraine. According to the head of the Joint Coordination Press Centre of the Ukrainian Defence Forces South, Natalya Humenyuk, Ukrainian troops observed the simultaneous launch of cruise missiles and guided bombs.
She told the news telethon that the Russians were more actively using tactical aviation and ground-based missile systems, and launching missiles together with guided bombs. The Ukrainian military has never observed the simultaneous launch of cruise missiles and bombs before.
"This is clearly an attempt by the enemy to launch a missile strike as efficiently as possible as they know that we cannot tackle guided bombs," said Humenyuk.
She added that Russia used a complex tactic of mixed attacks that night when, almost simultaneously, tactical aircraft launched guided bombs at the frontline and Kh-59 cruise missiles at further areas of the second tier of defence, "for example, Kryvyy Rih, Mykolayiv Region, and used attack drones."
"In fact, everything was done simultaneously and aimed at exhausting the air defence and achieving maximum results," she said.
Russia apparently shifted its main focus to the air, she added.
Russia launched nine missile and 39 air strikes over the last day, firing 50 times from multiple launch rocket systems at Ukrainian troops' positions and populated areas. Russian terrorist attacks resulted in deaths and injuries among the civilian population.