Air defence downs 77 air targets, including missiles and drones

On 15 January 2025, the Russian military launched a combined attack on Ukraine with missiles of various types of air, land and sea-based missiles, as well as Shahed-type attack UAVs and other types of imitation drones. Air defence systems shot down 30 missiles and 47 drones.

This was reported by the Air Force.

In total, the radio engineering troops of the Air Force of Ukraine detected and escorted 117 Russian air targets:

• One Iskander-M/KN- ballistic missile (launch area — Belgorod Region);
• Seven X-22/32 cruise missiles from Tu-22M3 aircraft (launch area — Tula Region — Russian Federation);
• Four Kalibr cruise missiles (from the Black Sea);
• 27 X-101/X-55cm cruise missiles from Tu-95MS strategic bombers (launch area — Volgograd Region);
• 4 X-59/X-69 guided missiles from tactical aircraft (launch area — Belgorod region);
• 74 Shahed attack UAVs/simulators of various types (from Bryansk, Millerovo, Orel, Primorsko-Akhtarsk districts — Russian Federation).

Aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare equipment and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Air Force and Defence Forces were involved in repelling the enemy air attack.

Photo: Air Force

According to preliminary data, as of 10.00 a.m., 77 air targets were confirmed to have been shot down:

• 23 X-101 and X-55cm cruise missiles;
• 3 Kalibr cruise missiles; 
• 4 X-59/X-69 guided missiles;
• 47 Shahed strike UAVs/simulator drones of various types, another 27 did not reach their targets (lost in the area).

The Air Force clarified that not all the missiles that were not included in the downed statistics reached their targets.

Russians attacked Ukrainian energy facilities, including gas infrastructure in Kharkiv, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk Regions. Unfortunately, the Russian attack resulted in damage to the facilities.

• Earlier, Zelenskyy said that during the massive strike, Russia fired more than 40 missiles, including ballistic missiles, at Ukraine. 
• During the morning air raid in Stryy and Drohobych districts of Lviv Region, Russians fired cruise missiles at critical infrastructure facilities.