Missile launch from Belgorod
On the night of May 9, Russian forces launched a new series of strikes on military targets throughout Ukraine. According to Kiev, 25 Kalibr and X-101/X-555 cruise missiles were launched by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Before the missiles, Ukrainian facilities were attacked by Russian kamikaze UAVs. In addition to missile attacks, about 40 Geran-2 UAVs targeted the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, up to 9 Russian strategic bombers were involved in the attack, including 8 TU-95ms and a TU-22M3.
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As expected, the command of the Air Forces of Ukraine reported on the incredible victory of the Ukrainian air defense. According to the Ukrainian military, at night Russian forces fired 25 sea- and air-based missiles in total. First, 8 Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea, then 17 X-101/X-555 air-launched missiles were launched from the Caspian Sea area. According to the AFU, allegedly 23 out of 25 missiles were shot down, including all the Kalibr missiles. In particular, the Ukrainian military claims to have shot down all 15 missiles that attacked targets in Kiev. Other cities were also reportedly secured. However, reports of the Ukrainian officials from the affected regions denied these claims.
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The Kiev regime is trying its best to hide the real losses. It is yet to acknowledge the successful Russian strikes throughout the country, including those confirmed by the footage from the spot. According to Kiev, all Russian UAVs and missiles are always shot by brave Ukrainian air defence forces. However, Kiev does not explain why it is postponing its proudly declared counteroffensive and why Zelensky continues to beg for more and more air defense systems from NATO. AP reported that on May 9, the US will provide Ukraine with another $ 1.2 billion to strengthen the country’s air defense. If the entire country is so strongly protected that dozens of Russian cruise missiles cannot break through the Ukrainian air defence, Kiev has nothing to ask for, since NATO allegedly provides Kiev with the ‘defensive means’.
As a comparison, Russian military sources reported that up to 80 cruise missiles and about 40 drones were used in the night strike on Ukraine on May 8. According to preliminary information, about 15 X-101/X-555 cruise missiles were launched at targets in Kiev. The total number of missiles was estimated from 50 to 80 units. Kiev also declared no damage, despite the numerous explosions confirmed by the footage from various Ukrainian regions.
On May 9, reports about numerous explosions throughout Ukraine also confirm that the claimed interception of 23 cruise missiles is clearly exaggerated.
At night, air alert sounded in all Ukrainian regions.
Several explosions thundered in the capital at around 4:00 and 5:22 am local time. Ukrainian media noted that the second explosion was especially powerful. The deputy of the Verkhovna Rada Alexey Goncharenko confirmed that there was a “very strong explosion” and called on the residents to go down to shelters. The Kiev military administration then announced that the air defense was allegedly working.
The police of the Kiev region published photos of some missiles:
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The head of the Kharkiv regional administration also confirmed explosions in the region. He confirmed that at least six explosions thundered and that there was damage on the ground.
“Emergency services are working on the ground. Information about the victims and the extent of the destruction is being clarified,” he wrote.
The locations of the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard were likely the targets hit in the Kharkiv region.
Explosions also thundered in the Dnipropetrovsk region. According to the local administration, air defense systems were operating in the region. According to preliminary reports, several strikes hit the facilities of the so-called Ukrainian “offensive guard”, as well as at weapons depots and storage sites of military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Explosions were also reported in the Sumy region.
On the evening of May 8, a loud explosion thundered in the city of Zaporozhie which is under control of the Kiev military. The Ukrainian military is accumulating forces there preparing for the attack. Earlier, it was reported that a significant part of the AFU advanced to the area of the city of Orekhov both from the Zaporozhye and Dnipropetrovsk regions. Russian strikes inflict losses in personnel and equipment on the Ukrainian troops deployed in the area which is expected to become the main direction of the upcoming Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Russian missiles also struck the AFU deployed in the Bakhmut region.
Launches from Belgorod region:
The massive missile attack of Russian forces on May 9 mainly targeted Ukrainian rear areas close to the front lines in eastern and southern regions. Most of the missiles, including the Iskander-K R-500 complex, were aimed at military facilities in the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporozhie and Kharkiv regions, where the military reserves of the Ukrainian army are concentrated. Russian forces strike precisely at ammunition depots, locations of military equipment and weapons, the deployment of personnel of Ukrainian formations intended for the announced counteroffensive.
The ongoing massive strikes confirm that Russia possess a sufficient number of expensive missiles to constantly hit targets on the territory of Ukraine.
