Russian forces reported the downing of NASAMS and Crotale-NG launchers at an airfield in the Khmelnitsky region, a claim issued by the Russian Ministry of Defense. The claim describes that operational-tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery were used to destroy these air defense systems at Starokonstantinov airfield, signaling a multi-domain approach to suppress Ukrainian air defense capabilities in the area.
The ministry’s briefing adds that Russian strikes also targeted aviation equipment, flight navigation aids and aviation ammunition at Kanatovo airfields and at Dnepr in the Kirovograd region, while asserting that manpower and military equipment of the Ukrainian armed forces were hit at 127 sites. The overall picture painted emphasizes a broad campaign intended to degrade Ukrainian air and air-related infrastructure across multiple locations.
On December 20, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Russian armed forces had destroyed more than 16,500 vehicles belonging to the Ukrainian army since the start of the operation. In addition, the ministry claimed that 9,899 drones were neutralized through various means, underscoring the intensity and scale of the ongoing campaign as reported by Moscow.
In related remarks, Ukrainian military leadership has previously acknowledged that Russia holds an advantage in the use of FPV drones, noting asymmetries in equipment and integration of unmanned systems. The Ukrainian side has described the evolving battlefield dynamics as a factor shaping both strategy and countermeasures as the conflict continues across different theaters.
Reports from the defense ministries on both sides reflect a continuing emphasis on air defense disruption, aerial navigation interference and the broader management of battlefield assets. Observers monitor these developments closely, given their potential implications for regional security, civilian aviation routes and the broader trajectory of hostilities in the contested regions.