Russia aiming to exhaust Ukraine’s air defense missiles – White House

Ukrainians must make “tough decisions” regarding the use of missiles as Russia aims to exhaust Ukrainian air defense systems through mass missile attacks, said U.S. National Security Council spokesperson, John Kirby, during a briefing on Jan. 23.

The latest Russian missile strike highlights the crucial need for the U.S. to continue providing assistance to Ukraine.

Read also: 3 dead and 42 injured — incl. 4 kids — in Russia’s horrific missile attack on Kharkiv’s civilians

"Ukrainians are forced to make tough decisions about which air defense missiles to use and which to save for another day,’ Kirby said. “And the Russians know it.”

By targeting civilian infrastructure, Russia continues to inflict suffering on Ukrainians to "break their will," Kirby said.

18 people were killed and 130 injured in Russia’s Jan. 23 mass missile attacks on Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his nightly address on Jan. 23.

Russia deployed 44 aerial attack assets against Ukraine on the morning of Jan. 23, including four S-300/S-400 guided anti-aircraft missiles, 15 X-101/X-555/X-55 cruise missiles, eight X-22 missiles, 12 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, and five X-59/X-31 guided aviation missiles.

Ukrainian Air defense forces intercepted 15 X-101/X-555/X-55 missiles, five Iskanders, and two X-59 missiles.

Read also:

• Missile strike in Kyiv leads to casualties and fires in multiple districts

• At least one dead, more injured after Russian missile attack on Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

• Unexploded warhead found in Kyiv apartment after Russian missile attack, evacuation underway

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