Air Force: Ukraine downs over 300 kamikaze drones as Russia starts to actively use them

In the latest episode of Ukraine This Week, the Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur reports on Russia’s latest missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, including the use of an Oreshnik ballistic missile near NATO borders.

Separately, Ukraine also hit a Russian Buk-M3 anti-aircraft missile system in the occupied parts of Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's General Staff.

"All such attempts are promptly detected and thwarted," the 7th Corps of the Airborne Assault Forces said on its Telegram channel.

Kyiv's energy situation remains challenging and is expected to remain so in the coming days, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Jan. 11.

Electricity was fully restored across Zaporizhzhia Oblast by the morning, the regional grid operator Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo said on Jan. 11.

Ukraine's air defense and electronic warfare systems intercepted 125 out of 154 Russian drones, while another 22 drones hit 18 locations.

The UAV, which bears a resemblance to the Iranian-designed Karrar drone, utilizes the Telefly jet engine, though with a greater thrust than the Geran-3 model, according to HUR.

Ukrainian forces launched an overnight attack on an oil depot in Russia's Volgograd Oblast as part of efforts to reduce Moscow's offensive capabilities, Ukraine's General Staff said Jan. 10.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Jan. 10 condemned Iran's crackdown on anti-government protests and called on the international community to increase pressure on Tehran, drawing parallels between its domestic repression and its conduct on the global stage.

Russia, Iran, China and South Africa are participating in the drills, called "Will for Peace 2026," with Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia and Indonesia joining as observers.

Russia’s takeover of Crimea did not begin in 2014. In the first part of a new documentary, The Kyiv Independent’s War Crimes Investigation Unit looks at how Russia began moving to seize the peninsula immediately after Ukraine gained independence in 1991.

"We are surging investment into our preparations (...) ensuring that Britain’s Armed Forces are ready to deploy, and lead, the multinational force (in) Ukraine, because a secure Ukraine means a secure U.K.," U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey said.

Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump plan to finalize the deal at the World Economic Forum's flagship annual summit, held in Switzerland on January 19–23, the Telegraph reported on Jan 9.

Ukraine's Air Force reported intercepting 94 of the 121 drones launched by Russia overnight. Russia also launched one ballistic missile from its Kursk region.