VIDEO: DAILY WAR COMMENTARY SUMMATION
29 Dec: RUSSIANS GETTING REALLY COCKY. They’re Using NATO AIRSPACE. | War in Ukraine Explained
Reporting from Ukraine
457K subscribers
12-30-2023 4:45 a.m. EST
7:16 Minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKkpvuJtUmU
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“I am Ukrainian. My country has been invaded by Russia. In this video I will tell you what happened on the six-hundred-seventy-fourth day of the war.
Day 674: Dec 29
Today, the biggest battle took place in the sky, as Ukrainians were repelling the most massive missile and drone strike since the beginning of the war. The Ukrainian Air Force Spokesman reported that they had never seen so many targets on their monitors at the same time.
The basic approach was to overwhelm the Ukrainian air defense system and confuse the air defense operators. Deciding on when and where to intercept a missile is actually very complicated. There are multiple layers of air defense rocket launchers, and if you just use those located on the first line to repel the first wave, then all prefrontal areas will be exposed during the second wave of attacks. That is why the air defense operators are looking at the trajectories of the missiles and trying to figure out where each missile is heading. Some missiles, therefore, are allowed to pass through and are later intercepted by the air defense in the rear. Russian forces obviously understand this and create very complex trajectories. Sometimes, the missiles even turn around and try to hit the cities from behind. Today, Russian forces even used NATO airspace to attack Ukrainians from the back. The missile reportedly crossed the Polish border and then turned back to hit Ukraine. Polish officials confirmed that Russian missiles were indeed detected in their sky, however, they decided not to escalate. Moreover, some missiles are even capable of releasing false heat targets.
In order to reduce Ukrainian defensive capabilities by unloading the air defense rocket launchers, the first wave of the massive strike involved a lot of drones. The drones were launched from the Bryansk and Rostov regions and spread out as they passed the contact line. Shortly after launching 36 kamikaze drones “Shahed”, Russian forces launched 90 missiles “Kh-55” and similar types from the Kaspian base, then 14 ballistic missiles from Belgorod and Crimea, 8 missiles “Kh-22” and 5 notorious “Dagger” missiles from the north, and also 4 anti-radar rockets, and 1 missile “Kh-59” from the south. In total, there were 158 targets – more specifically, 122 missiles and 36 drones.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported that 87 missiles and 27 drones were shot down, implying a 73% success rate. Unfortunately, this means that 33 missiles and 9 drones reached their targets. The main targets of these missiles and drones became the biggest cities in Ukraine: Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhia, Odesa, and Lviv.
In Kyiv, according to Russian sources, Russian forces struck at least 5 unspecified warehouses, presumably with Ukrainian military equipment. Ukrainian sources reported that multiple civilian areas suffered from the strike, including a residential building, an office, and the outskirts. It seems like Russians also tried to target the rocket factory, however, hit the nearby subway station, rendering the whole line inoperable.
In Dnipro, according to Ukrainian sources, Russian forces struck a huge shopping mall in the center of the city. Moreover, one drone or rocket hit a maternity hospital. Fortunately, all the women and infants were in the bunker, so everyone survived. Russian sources reported that the storage facilities inside the shopping mall were used for military purposes and that other targets were areas of forces concentrations. In Odessa and Zaporizhia, according to Russian sources, Russian forces struck the port and other infrastructure, a warehouse with equipment, factory “Iskra”, and a secret, industrial zone. Ukrainian sources reported that apart from hitting port infrastructure, at least one rocker hit a residential building, and another fell near a school in Odesa, and in Zaporizhia, residential areas on the outskirts suffered the most.
In Kharkiv, Russians reportedly hit multiple industrial zones, warehouses, and tram depots. Judging by the lack of footage from the region, the Russian strike here was the most successful. And this is not surprising, as the city is located just 25 kilometers from the border, giving a very short time to react. Moreover, Russians purposefully use ballistic missiles in this region. Ukrainian Air Force Spokesman stated that ballistic missiles can only be intercepted with special air defense systems, such as the Patriots, which Ukrainians obviously do not have enough to cover the whole of Ukraine – just a few of the most important areas.”
*** Select the 3 horizontal dots to view the Complete Transcript [Below video/ top right corner]
We will continue to strengthen our air defense and work towards pushing the war back into Russia – address by the President of Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Official website
29 December 2023 - 20:21
https://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/prodovzhimo-posilyuvati-nashu-ppo-i-pracyuvati-nad-tim-shob-88025
Dear Ukrainians,
A rescue operation is currently underway in various cities of Ukraine following the impact of Russian missiles and the falling debris. It was the heaviest attack by this human scum involving nearly 160 missiles and drones. Our soldiers successfully intercepted most of them, including various types of missiles and “Shahed” drones. The targets are familiar to Russia – over 100 private houses have been destroyed or damaged, along with 45 multi-story buildings, schools, two churches, hospitals, a maternity ward, and numerous commercial storages. As of now, 29 people have lost their lives. My sincere condolences to all their relatives and loved ones. Over 150 people have been injured, and they are receiving the necessary assistance. Cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Odesa, Lviv, Zaporizhzhia, Smila, the Kharkiv, Sumy, Khmelnytsky regions, and our Zhytomyr region have been affected… We will respond to Russian terrorists for every strike. Terror never gains in playing against people. Over 600 rescuers are involved in providing assistance and clearing debris, along with a lot of equipment. The work will continue around the clock. I want to express gratitude to everyone involved and everyone supporting those affected. Special thanks to the rescue workers of Ukraine’s State Emergency Service. Thank you, guys! Dmytro Lutsenko in Kharkiv, Denys Mikheev in Dnipro, Pavlo Kharchevsky in Odesa, Mykhailo Hryn and Ihor Dobryden in Kyiv, and Andrii Nesterenko in Zaporizhzhia. I also want to commend the National Police of Ukraine, whose members have shown exceptional dedication today: Oleksandr Hnatiuk in Kharkiv, Dmytro Popovych in Dnipro, Artem Hrushko in Odesa, and Iryna Naumenko in Zaporizhzhia – thank you, Iryna. Thank you to you all and your colleagues!
It is crucial for the world to react to this latest act of terror. Many leaders today have already declared their support for Ukraine and Ukrainians, and I am grateful to each one. Especially to those who have assisted our country with air defense. Our anti-aircraft defense forces have done a lot today, considering that Russian terrorists deliberately tried to bypass our defenses. We will continue to strengthen our air defense and work towards pushing the war back to these human scum where it came from – home to Russia.
Today, I visited the positions of our soldiers on the front lines in Avdiivka. I met with the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade. These are heroic warriors. I personally thanked them for their strength, for how they endure in battles. I awarded those who distinguished themselves the most, presenting the “Golden Star” of Hero of Ukraine to Junior Sergeant Ihor Tymoschuk and the “Cross of Military Merit” to Senior Lieutenant Yevhen Baikov. I also presented orders for Courage and the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky to the brigade’s soldiers. It is an honor to personally thank such warriors – all those currently on the front lines, defending our state.
Despite fatigue, which is visible, there is no despair. There is no weakness. None. And this is the most important thing! Ukraine is fighting for its life, and I thank each and every one who is there on the front lines, in the pre-frontline areas, everyone who is helping.
I visited a hospital in Donetsk region to personally thank our military medics and support the guys recovering from injuries. I honored doctors and soldiers with state awards. I am proud of our people – the strength of our nation, our country, what Ukraine can achieve when we are united. I thank everyone who cares for our state and people! Those who defend, work, and strengthen!
Together, we will endure. And we will win! I know it.
VIDEO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZu9Fw1nuSs