Russia launched a fresh barrage of missile strikes on 40 targets across Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday, according to the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) Telegram channel.
Four different regions came under attack from 37 cruise, ballistic, and anti-aircraft missiles, as well as three Shahed attack drones, the UAF reported, adding that it had downed eight of the missiles, while another 20 had failed to reach their targets.
Fire following a Russian rocket attack in the Dnipro region, 8 January 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE / Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office reported that one person was injured and over 26 buildings were damaged as a result of attacks on the northeastern Sumy region.
Local authorities reported damage in the central Dnipro and northern Chernihiv regions, while an unexploded missile also landed in the central Poltava region. Neighbouring Poland reportedly placed its air forces on alert during the attacks.
The failure of most of the missiles to reach their targets showed that Russian missiles were becoming increasingly unreliable and “flying who knows where,” the UAF said.
The attacks came just days after NATO said it would “further bolster Ukraine’s defences” following a series of Russian attacks on the country since the start of the year, as well as a further €2.9-billion pledge of military funding by the British government.
