Ukraine’s capital faced record attacks as Russia deployed hypersonic Zircons, ballistic missiles, and 339 drones on January 20.
Record-Breaking Attack Triggers Kyiv Air Raid
On Tuesday evening (January 20), air raid sirens wailed over Kyiv as Russia launched its largest assault yet, including hypersonic Zircon missiles, 18 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 339 drones. Today’s Russian attack cost Ukraine approximately 80 million euros just in defensive missiles, said President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia Deploys ‘Zombie’ Missiles in Combat for First Time
Ukrainian defenses were breached by RM-48U missiles, used in combat for the first time according to Defense Express. These are converted training missiles based on decommissioned 5V55 and 48N6 models with expired technical resources. A Russian military expert told Nowa Gazeta Europa that these missiles are being converted into ground-to-ground weapons by adding warheads at minimal cost.
Cheap Weapons, Expensive Defense Challenge
Experts note that RM-48U missiles are inexpensive to adapt but force Ukraine to deploy costly defense systems. The tactic aims to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses, which cannot intercept everything, says military strategy professor Mauro Gilli. These converted missiles can carry warheads weighing 133-180 kilograms, though it’s unclear if they carried full warheads or served as decoys in the recent attack.
Zelensky Seeks Advanced Weapons as Supplies Dwindle
In response to escalating attacks, President Zelensky appealed to allies for PAC-3 missiles for Patriot systems, with each interceptor costing $3.7 million. He revealed that some Ukrainian air defense systems are now completely out of missiles. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine receives components from partners but their production capacity remains limited. Analysts warn that Russia’s use of RM-48U shows the Kremlin’s willingness to use any available weapons, even those with no other purpose, at almost no cost.