Russia launched only 25 drones last night, likely saving the Shaheds for symbolic New Year’s Day assault

Last night, Russia launched an unusually smaller drone attack against Ukraine. Such daily air assaults mostly target the Ukrainian residential areas and power grid. While Ukraine shot down most of the 25 drones, Moscow's forces still caused damage to power infrastructure, hitting a power station in Kherson with artillery and injuring a woman there.

Russia launches 25 drones, most shot down

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that from 9:00 p.m. on 28 December into the early hours of 29 December, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 25 long-range one-way attack drones. These included Shahed, Gerbera, and other types launched from the directions of Oryol and Millerovo in Russia, as well as occupied Donetsk and Crimea’s Hvardiiske.

Air defense responded using aviation, anti-air missile units, electronic warfare, drone systems, and mobile fire groups. By 8:30 a.m., preliminary data showed that 21 of the 25 drones had been shot down or suppressed across Ukraine’s north, south, and east. 

Four drones hit targets at two separate locations, according to the Air Force.

Russian shelling cuts heat in Kherson

No drone damage to the power grid was reported, but Russian forces shelled Kherson’s thermal power station in southern Ukraine yesterday, cutting heat to tens of thousands of apartments amid winter cold.

Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretskyi reported that the facility suffered serious destruction. A female employee was injured in the strike and hospitalized. The Kherson plant, which serves as the only centralized heat source for much of the city, has been attacked almost daily, he said. Emergency efforts to restore heat are underway, and Naftogaz is working with local authorities to establish backup heating options for residents.