Reuters on January 26 quoted the governor of the Mykolaiv region as saying that the missiles were launched within the territory of Ukraine, including two that flew to the northwest over the Mykolaiv region.
According to Kiev officials, Russian warplanes launched a barrage of missiles at Ukraine during rush hour on January 26. Ukrainians are seen taking cover as air defenses shoot down incoming missiles.
Air raid sirens echoed across Ukraine. In the capital Kiev, people take shelter in metro stations.
A Reuters reporter heard the sound of a missile flying overhead at low altitude, about 30 kilometers from the capital Kiev.
“Up to six Tu-95 fighters took off from the Murmansk region and launched more than 30 missiles in various areas. The missiles seem to be mainly aimed at central Ukraine. The air defense system is active. ” – spokesman for the Ukrainian air force Yuriy Ihnat said on national television.
“The first Russian missiles were shot down,” Ukraine’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said.
On the evening of January 25, the Ukrainian military announced that its air defenses had “shot down all 24 drones deployed by Russia”. Photo: Reuters
The airstrikes took place a few hours after the US and Germany announced their agreement to send battle tanks to Ukraine.
DTEK, Ukraine’s largest private energy producer, said it was cutting emergency power in the capital Kiev, surrounding areas, Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk due to the risk of missile attack.
Other power producers are also cutting emergency power in different regions of Ukraine.
On the evening of January 25, the Ukrainian military announced that its air defenses had “shot down all 24 drones deployed by Russia”.
At least 15 drones were shot down around the capital Kiev but there were no reports of damage.