The conflict between Russia and Ukraine has escalated, and the two sides have launched an aerial confrontation. According to reports, Russia first carried out air strikes on the entire territory of Ukraine, throwing a large number of bombers and missiles, causing heavy losses and losses in Ukraine. Ukraine then also retaliated against Russia, using rocket artillery and drones, striking Russian border cities and Moscow Oblast, among other places, causing multiple ** and fires, and also causing damage to Russian people and property.
In this air battle, the Russian border city of Belgorod suffered the most serious blow, the local "**dozens", Ukraine is suspected of using long-range multiple rocket launchers, sending a large number of rockets into Russia, although Russia intercepted 13, but still many fell in the urban area of Belgorod, causing the paralysis of public facilities such as water supply, as well as the destruction of 10 private buildings and two cars. One of the buildings was hit directly by a rocket, resulting in the tragedy of one person being killed and four injured.
In addition to rockets, Ukraine also launched drone attacks, dozens of drones flew to Russia's Moscow Oblast and other places in the middle of the night, and the Russian Defense Ministry said that Russian air defense missile systems were activated urgently, and in the airspace of these areas, 32 Ukrainian drones were shot down.
This is a rare large-scale air battle on the battlefield of Russia and Ukraine, and the offensive and defensive efforts of both sides have reached an unprecedented level. Russia's previous air strikes on Ukraine used 19 bombers, including Tu-22M3 and Tu-95, as well as MiG-31 fighters, suspected of carrying the "Dagger" hypersonic**. In addition, Russia has also sent a variety of missiles such as the X-22, and even the S-300 has been used.
Ukraine said that Russian airstrikes fired a total of 158 waves, including 122 missiles and 36 drones. Such saturation attacks have made it difficult for Ukraine's air defenses to resist, and Ukraine says it intercepted 88 missiles and 27 drones. Foreign media said that at least 30 people were killed and more than 160 injured in Ukraine as a result of Russian airstrikes.
Russia's airstrikes may be part of a "winter offensive" against Ukraine, which was also hit by large-scale Russian airstrikes last winter, and its infrastructure was severely damaged. Of course, this air strike may also be related to Ukraine's recent destruction of the Black Sea Fleet landing ship, which is a retaliatory action by Russia. And Ukraine's large-scale attack on Russia is clearly also a response to Russian air strikes.
Ukraine recently attacked the port of the Feodosia region of Crimea, destroying the landing ship "Novocherkassk".
According to experts quoted by Russian media, Ukraine's long-range drone technology has progressed, and they have now developed an AQ-400 "KOSA" drone, which is similar in appearance to the British "Storm Shadow" cruise missile, this loitering ammunition has a range of up to 750 kilometers and can hit Moscow, and the payload has 42 kg, which can cause a certain destructive effect. Ukraine can now produce 100 AQ-400 "KOSA" drones per month and is working to increase production to about 500 per month.
Ukrainian AQ-400 "KOSA" UAV that looks like "Storm Shadow").
Russia is also having difficulty defending against Ukrainian drones due to the difficulty of defending against drones. Although Russia has an advantage in missile air strikes, Ukraine's frequent large-scale drone attacks will also bring huge losses and troubles to Russia.