Russia Launches Major January 24th Assault: 375 Drones, 21 Missiles Strike Ukraine, Causing Casualties and Disrupting Kyiv

Russia's Large-Scale Combined Assault on Ukraine, January 24

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the early hours of January 24, Russia launched a massive combined aerial attack against Ukraine, deploying 375 attack drones and 21 missiles. The assault, which primarily targeted Kyiv and its surrounding region, resulted in damage to energy infrastructure and civilian casualties. The attack disrupted heating, water supply, and metro services in the capital, forcing emergency power outages across the country. This represents one of the largest coordinated air assaults in recent months, highlighting the ongoing vulnerability of Ukrainian cities to such barrages.

According to available sources, a total of 396 aerial attack assets were recorded during the assault. The types of missiles used included:

• 2 3M22 Zircon anti-ship missiles
• 12 Kh-22/Kh-32 cruise missiles
• 6 Iskander-M/S-300 ballistic missiles
• 1 Kh-59/69 guided air-to-surface missile

Ukrainian air defenses managed to intercept and destroy 357 of the drones and 15 of the missiles.

Tragically, a 48-year-old woman was killed in Kyiv's Holosiivskyi district. At least four other people were injured, with three requiring hospitalization and one treated at the scene. The attack impacted five districts of Kyiv: Darnytskyi, Dniprovskyi, Desnianskyi, Holosiivskyi, and Solomianskyi. Damage was reported at six residential buildings, a confectionery factory building, the premises of the Vernadsky National Library, as well as a vehicle impound lot, warehouses, and cars.

As a result of the strikes, nearly 6,000 apartment buildings were left without heating. The regions of Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv were also hit. The emergency power shutdowns were implemented due to the consequences of the mass attack on Ukrainian power plants and electricity transmission and distribution substations.

Incidents and Aftermath in Kyiv

Several incidents occurred across various districts of Kyiv:

• In the Desnianskyi district, debris from an intercepted object struck a non-residential building.
• The Dniprovskyi district saw a fire break out in a garage cooperative, a burning fuel tanker in a parking lot, and shattered windows in an apartment building.
• In the Darnytskyi district, windows of a private medical facility were damaged.
• A fire occurred on the territory of a non-residential building in the Holosiivskyi district, along with broken windows in a private house.
• The Solomianskyi district recorded damage to a six-story office building.

Regarding metro operations, service on the red line is running between Akademmistechko and Arsenalna stations with intervals of 7-9 minutes, and between Darnytsia, Livoberezhna, and Arsenalna with 12-minute intervals. The Lisova, Chernihivska, Hidropark, and Dnipro metro stations are closed. The green line is operating with transfers: trains are running between Syrets and Vydubychi stations, and between Osokorky and Chervonyi Khutir.

This attack underscores the persistent threat to civilians and critical infrastructure in Ukraine. Despite the efforts of Ukrainian air defense forces, mass strikes employing advanced weaponry continue to have severe consequences for urban life. The emergency power and heating outages create immense hardship for residents, particularly during the winter season.