Drones, missiles and air defence: Ukraine’s fight is increasingly in the skies

Ukrainian officials say Moscow launched 90 drones in a series of attacks as the new year began, after days of intensifying strikes. Askold Krushelnycky writes that Vladimir Putin is likely to be lashing out in response to a number of successful, high-profile strikes by Kyiv

Ukrainian firefighters work at the site of a burning building after a Russian drone attack in Dublyany in the Lviv region (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)

As the front line of the war in Ukraine is mired in bloody stalemate, breaking the enemy’s morale via repeated aerial assault is becoming increasingly important.

Recent days have seen an intensification of strikes using missiles and explosive “suicide” drones. On New Year’s Day, Ukraine said 90 drones had been launched by Russia, calling it a record for the months since Moscow’s invasion began.

The explosions from swarms of Russian drones along with scores of missiles and Ukrainian anti-aircraft defences heralded 2024 across Ukraine. Authorities said the attacks continued for 11 hours into Monday morning. Major population centres that were struck included Kherson, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Lviv, Dnipro, Odesa and Lviv. A highrise caught fire in Odesa, with at least one person confirmed dead.