The Air Force explains why Russian missiles managed to reach western Ukraine

Russian missiles sometimes reach the western regions of our country. This is because it is impossible to cover the entire territory of Ukraine with air defense systems.

In addition, based on intelligence, the invaders build routes for missiles and attack drones to pass through areas where it is more difficult for air defense to intercept enemy air assets. This was stated by the spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yuriy Ihnat, during a telethon.

"Both missiles and drones always fly over. We inform each region as the missiles fly over. They are flying along the routes they have calculated, where they have intelligence, where it is more difficult to intercept them by our air defense, including fighters and mobile fire groups," he emphasized.

The fact that cruise missiles and drones fly quite low also complicates the task of air defense forces: this is done precisely to overcome the air defense system.

"We can't completely cover the entire territory of Ukraine with air defense so that no missile can fly over, so we locally defend cities, facilities, and directions. That's why enemy missiles and Shakhtys often reach the western regions, change their route, and are shot down on the way to potential targets. Not all enemy missiles reach their targets, there are different options - they can fall in the field, or explode in the air," Ihnat summarized.

On the morning of January 8, Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine, launching missiles from Tu-95MS and Kinzhali.

The first explosions occurred in the Dnipropetrovsk region, then in the Khmelnytsky and Zaporizhzhia regions, as well as in the Kharkiv region. There were civilians killed and wounded.

In Khmelnytsky, infrastructure facilities were targeted: a fire broke out, and two people were reported dead by 11:00 a.m.

In Novomoskovsk, Dnipropetrovs'k region, almost 30 people were injured, including children aged 4 to 17.

In Kryvyi Rih, a shopping center and dozens of houses were damaged, and a man was injured. The invaders also attacked Kryvyi Rih district, killing a woman. A total of four people were injured in the regional center and Kryvyi Rih district.

In Zaporizhzhia, residential areas were hit: as of 09:30 am, four wounded were reported.

In the Kharkiv region, the occupiers struck at Kharkiv and Zmiiv. They targeted industrial facilities, but traditionally hit houses. In Kharkiv, there were no casualties, and in Zmiiv, rescuers are searching for people under the rubble. As of 11:00 a.m., one Russian casualty was reported in the town.

In total, during the attack on January 8, the invaders sent 59 air defense systems at our country, including Shahideen, cruise missiles of various types and aerial ballistic Kinzhals.

Air defense forces shot down all 8 enemy drones and 18 X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles. Some of the Russian missiles did not reach their targets.

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