On 14 December 2023, Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine with the Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic air-launched ballistic missiles. Air defense forces destroyed one missile in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

“Due to the takeoff of MiG-31K aircraft from the Savasleyka airfield, Russia, at 14:09, an air alert was announced throughout Ukraine. At about 14:15, missiles were launched. They arrived in the area of Starokonstantinov [Khmelnytskyi Oblast] at 14.20,” the statement said.

The Air Force noted that it took only 10 minutes from the air alert announcement to the arrival of the missiles in central Ukraine.

“In total, the enemy used three X-47M2 Kinzhal air-to-air ballistic missiles from three MiG-31K aircraft from the airspace of Tula region in the direction of Kyiv and Starokonstantinov. An anti-aircraft missile unit of the Ukrainian Air Force destroyed one X-47M2 Kinzhal missile in Kyiv region,” the statement said.

The Air Force emphasized that it would not comment on the consequences of the missile strike in Khmelnytskyi Oblast.

“Several enemy targets we reported earlier were probably imitated by enemy electronic warfare. However, we will continue promptly reporting the direction of movement of all targets, as it is impossible to immediately establish whether it is a real Kinzhal or a so-called ‘fake target’,” the Air Force said.

There were multiple nationwide air raid alerts in Ukraine before and after the Kinzhal attacks, linked to the activity of Kinzhal-carriers, the MiG-31K aircraft, in Russia.

In the early hours of 13 December, Russia targeted Kyiv with ten ballistic missiles. Air defenders destroyed all the air targets, but the debris of the downed missiles injured 53 people. 

Additionally, Russia’s Shahed explosive drone attacks on Ukraine occur every night in recent months.

Read also:

• Russian night attack on Kyiv injured 53 people, damaged kindergartens, buildings, cars, critical infrastructure
• Russian night attack on Odesa injured 2, damaged port infrastructure
• Russia attacks Kyiv with ballistic missiles, injuring 4 people
• Russian explosive drone crashes in Romania, NATO doesn’t see attack as intentional
• Russia’s night attacks across Ukraine killed 1, injured 12, including 3 children
• Russia attacks Ukraine with Kinzhal missiles, killing child in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
• Russian Kinzhals aimed for Storm Shadow carriers in a massive missile attack on Ukraine
• Ukraine destroyed all 12 Russian missiles sent in morning attack on Kyiv (updated)