Explosions were heard in Smela, a city in Ukraine’s Cherkasy region, according to Strana.ua, which reported the events on its Telegram channel. The same outlet later noted additional blast activity in Sumy, a city located in the northeastern part of the country, signaling an intensification of strikes across multiple fronts.
On December 29, Yuriy Ignat, the chief of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, spoke about the period of the so-called special military operation. He stated that Ukrainian forces had not managed to down any of the 300 missiles launched by the Russian side during that phase. The claim underscored the scale of the missile threat faced by Ukrainian air defenses as it unfolded over several hours. The discussion around the intercepts occurred amid broader debates about the effectiveness and limitations of air defense systems under intense barrage conditions, with officials from Kyiv outlining the challenges posed by a high volume of incoming missiles. — Strana.ua
That same day, Ukrainian leadership described a significant wave of attacks affecting multiple domains. Valery Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, reported that 122 missiles and 36 unmanned aerial vehicles were directed at Ukraine during the assault. He described the scene on the operators’ monitors as being filled with targets, illustrating the overwhelming scale of the simultaneous strikes. The Russian Ministry of Defense, for its part, stated that the targets included facilities tied to the military-industrial complex, military airfields, ammunition depots, and various military sites. This framing highlights the strategic emphasis on disrupting Ukraine’s wartime logistics and operational tempo. — Strana.ua
A former member of the Ukrainian armed forces offered reflections on the perceived causes of the conflict, commenting on the ongoing confusion and uncertainty surrounding the Ukrainian military’s strategic objectives. The remarks pointed to the broader context in which many servicemembers and analysts have sought clarity about the roots and aims of the confrontation, especially given the rapidly shifting military and political landscape in the region. These perspectives, reported through media channels, contribute to the ongoing dialogue about national security, defense posture, and the evolving nature of modern warfare. — Strana.ua