Vladimir Putin’s aerial bombardment has been halted as Ukraine boasts about destroying Russia’s warcraft.
The Kremlin unleashed a brutal barrage of £8million missiles and kamikaze drones on two cities in the ex-Soviet state.
Putin’s so-called New Year “revenge” blitzkrieg is estimated to have cost around half-a-billion pounds so far.
Ukraine confirmed at least five people were killed and 135 injured in the assaults against Kyiv and Kharkiv.
People look at destroyed residential building as a result of a missile attack by the Russian army
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However, all 10 of the Russian Kinzhal missiles were shot down.
Putin previously lauded the missiles as unstoppable as they can fly at 10 times the speed of sound.
Ukrainian army's commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny said: “Today, the Ukrainian air force downed 10 out of 10 Russian 'Kinzhal'... aeroballistic missiles with the help of the Patriot AD system.
“This is a record. If the missiles hit their targets, the consequences would be catastrophic.”
He added: “There is no reason to believe that the enemy will stop here. Therefore, we need more systems and munition for them.”
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Russian president Vladimir PutinGettyKinzhal, which are rarely used by the Kremlin due to its £8million price tag, means “dagger” in Russian and is an air-launched ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear or conventional warheads.
However, Ukraine’s air force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat claimed that Tuesday’s attack was the highest number used in one attack since the start of the war.
At least 41 civilians have been killed since the weekend.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired almost 100 missiles of various types in the attacks.
Zelensky claimed 70 were shot down, with a majority taken out in the area around the Ukrainian capital.
Kyiv's mayor Vitaliy Klitschko seen near residential building that was damaged as a result of a missile attack by the Russian army
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He also noted that Western-supplied air defence systems such as Patriots and NASAMS had saved hundreds of lives.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke with Zelensky yesterday to offer his condolences to all those Ukrainians killed and injured in “barbaric Russian airstrikes” over the Christmas period.
A Downing Street readout added: “The Prime Minister said the UK would continue to stand steadfastly by Ukraine as they fight aggression and occupation, throughout 2024 and into the future.
“The leaders discussed recent developments in the conflict, including progress in the Black Sea and the success of the Ukrainian air defence, bolstered by UK-supplied ground-to-air missiles.
“The Prime Minister set out ongoing UK work to provide military and diplomatic support to Ukraine, including through further deliveries of lethal aid, support for President Zelensky’s peace plan and a long-term security framework.”
