Russia is attacking Ukraine with air strikes more seriously than ever before. There are several intentions behind this and a clear message at the beginning of the year: the anti-aircraft systems are to be overwhelmed and the people in Ukraine are to be worn down.
The new year has barely begun when Russia is terrorizing Ukraine with massive air strikes. After a record number of 90 drones were dropped over several Ukrainian cities on New Year’s Eve, another hail of rockets is now following. The capital Kiev and the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv are particularly hard hit. Residents are desperately describing on social networks how air alarm sirens have been wailing and rocket strikes have been heard for hours.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian army deployed a total of 99 rockets and cruise missiles of various types. Of these, 72 projectiles were intercepted, including all ten hypersonic Kinschal (Dagger) missiles. In the course of the war so far, the Kinschal rockets have been used again and again. However, this is the first time Russia has deployed so many at once. The weapon is repeatedly described by the Russians as a miracle weapon because of its speed, which was developed to be able to overcome Western anti-aircraft systems.
Terror on civilian population
The massive air strikes pursue specific goals. Russia has three intentions, says Austrian Colonel Markus Reisner, who has been observing and analyzing the war in Ukraine from the beginning. On the one hand, the attacks target the critical infrastructure, around 50 to 60 percent of which was already destroyed by the Russians last winter. The Ukrainians were able to repair around 10 to 15 percent. “The Russian side wants to destroy it. In addition, there are logistics, warehouses, command structures of the Ukrainian armed forces,” said Reisner.
The second goal is to exert massive terror on the civilian population. The Ukrainian air defense manages to intercept many of the missile and drone attacks. But the daily air raids force the residents to go to the air raid shelters every night or at least to sleep in the hallway – as far away from the windows as possible. Added to this is the noise of the air raid sirens and the rescue workers, as well as the deafening explosions. “It’s extremely grueling,” says Reisner. The missiles that make it past air defenses cause massive destruction. Homes are destroyed and people are buried under rubble and ash. Dozens of people died.
The third goal that Moscow is pursuing with its barrage of rockets is to oversaturate the anti-aircraft systems that the West has supplied: Russia is forcing Ukraine to use up as much ammunition as possible. And the more drones and missiles they use, the harder it will be for Ukraine to intercept them all. In order to cause as much damage as possible, the Russians first send out drones to distract the air defense system. This will be followed by cruise missiles and the Kinschal-type hypersonic missiles now in use. They are faster, fly lower and are therefore detected later by air defense. If they are not intercepted, they also cause much greater damage because they have greater impact than drones.
Revenge for Belgorod?
The timing of the attacks is no coincidence: just a few days ago, Russia threatened Ukraine with “retaliation” for the attacks on the Russian city of Belgorod. 25 people were killed there in an attack with Ukrainian rockets on Saturday. It cannot be independently verified whether the people died due to falling debris, our own air defense or rockets. In any case, the Kremlin blames Kiev and has vowed revenge.
Holidays like Christmas and New Year are a perfidious way to break the morale of Ukrainians. While people around the world welcome the new year with renewed hope, for Ukrainians it begins with an unmistakable message from the invaders: there will be no mercy this year either. The terror is entering a new round.