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- Game to defeat: the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the regions of the Russian Federation with jet UAVs
Game to defeat: the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the regions of the Russian Federation with jet UAVs
On the night of January 24, 121 enemy UAVs were shot down over Russian territory. This time, the Ukrainian militants used new ammunition, drones, cruise missiles, which were announced by Zelensky and the Ukrainian Armed Forces in December 2024, experts say. In their opinion, in addition to direct damage, this attack is aimed at improving the negotiating positions of the Kiev regime, especially against the background of statements by the new US President Donald Trump about his readiness for dialogue with Moscow. However, as in previous attempts at massive drone attacks, the Kiev regime failed to achieve its goals. Which regions became the targets of the air raid — in the Izvestia article.
What the enemy uses in attacks on Russia
Last night, the Russian Armed Forces shot down 121 drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over 13 Russian regions. They were intercepted and destroyed by air defense systems on duty, the Russian Defense Ministry said.
Most of all — 37 UAVs — were eliminated in the skies over the Bryansk region, including 18 jet aircraft. This was stated by the governor of the region Alexander Bogomaz. 20 drones were destroyed over the Ryazan region, 17 each over the Kursk and Saratov regions.
In addition, seven drones were destroyed over the Rostov region, six each over Moscow and Belgorod, three over Voronezh, two each over Tula, Orel and Lipetsk regions, one each over Crimea and Moscow.
Ukrainian Beaver-type drone
Between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. Moscow time, the enemy attempted to attack the Leningrad Region. There, air defense systems destroyed three UAVs. According to the governor of the Leningrad region, Alexander Drozdenko, they were shot down near the village of Oredezh, which is located on the border with the Novgorod region. No one was injured, no damage was recorded.
Later, the administration of the Sergiev Posad city district reported that an aircraft-type UAV attack was also repelled there. Emergency services specialists are working at the scene. As a result of falling debris, there was no damage or injuries.
Drones of the "Fierce" and "Beaver" types took part in the strikes on our territory, military expert Dmitry Kornev told Izvestia.
is a piston—powered UAV that moves at low altitude and has a range of up to 1,000 km for the Beaver and more than 1,000 km for the Fierce. In addition, the same cruise missile drones that were announced by Zelensky and the Ukrainian Armed Forces in December 2024 could be used. In particular, the Ruta cruise missile with a jet engine and a range of up to 1,000 km. From the outside, it resembles an ordinary cruise missile. In addition, a batch of Inferno cruise missiles was shown, which have a lower speed than the Ruta and a range of up to 500 km. These data were referred to as international sources of information. These devices were probably used in such a massive attack.
Such cruise missiles are more complex targets for air defense than slow—moving ones and relatively large drones, the expert believes.
What is Ukraine trying to achieve with strikes on our territory
One of the main goals of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' attack on our territory is to reduce the defense capability and military power of the Russian Armed Forces. To do this, they are attacking facilities of the fuel and energy complex and military purposes. The chairman of the board of the all-Russian organization "Officers of Russia", Lieutenant Colonel Roman Shkurlatov, told Izvestia about this.
— Our military has studied the enemy's tactics for a long time," he said. — The Ukrainian Armed Forces take a breather for a day or two, apparently accumulating weapons of destruction, and then arrange mass raids on the territory of Russia. They use low-flying aircraft-type UAVs with a long range, which are not a standard target for our air defense. And now we need to find a new method to protect the airspace. In particular, it is advisable to shoot down UAVs of Ukrainian militants on distant approaches, preferably on their territory, and not on ours, because debris falls, causing fires.In the future, with the help of intelligence and intelligence information, destroy all ammunition at the stage of transportation and storage, so that they do not even reach the starting positions. This is still being done, but we need to improve this system.
The second goal is information and propaganda, the expert believes.
— And our citizens often help them in this, - Roman Shkurlatov emphasized. — From our strikes, which we regularly inflict, the damage to the enemy is much greater. But Kiev has managed to ensure that the footage taken by Ukrainians is practically not freely available online. And our society does not see how much damage is being inflicted on the enemy. And thanks to our unconscious citizens, everyone can see there. Because of this, it feels like everything is bad for us. In fact, they work for the enemy. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce responsibility for the personnel that are posted on the Internet.
Ukraine's strategy is not changing, they want to inflict maximum damage, political analysts say. Moreover, strikes are being carried out not only against military targets, but there is a growing trend in the number of attacks on civilians, said Natalia Eremina, professor at St. Petersburg State University.
— They inflict psychological blows, in fact, these are terrorist attacks in order to change the emotional reaction of the Russian people, — said Eremina.
Drone attacks on Russian territory are aimed at improving the negotiating positions of the Kiev regime, especially against the background of statements by the new US President Donald Trump about his readiness for dialogue with Moscow. At the same time, Kiev is trying to demonstrate what funds from Western countries are used for, Natalia Yeremina emphasizes.
— This is how they account for the resources spent, the expert believes.
Since the new US administration has not yet decided on the amount of aid to Kiev, Zelensky is trying to show with such attacks that Ukraine is capable of fighting, and the West should send more weapons and money, the political scientist concluded.
Massive UAV raid on Russian regions at the beginning of the year
Earlier, Izvestia wrote that before the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, the Kiev regime will continue to make efforts to maximize the escalation of the confrontation.
In addition, two more British-made Storm Shadow air-launched cruise missiles were destroyed over the Black Sea.
In total, six ATACMS missiles, eight UK—made Storm Shadow cruise missiles, an American-made HIMARS multiple launch rocket, and 180 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down during the day, including 146 outside their combat zone.
