Massive Russian strike with over 70 missiles and Zircon on Ukraine: what the night attack showed for air defense
03.02.2026When dozens of ballistic missiles, Zircons, and hundreds of kamikaze drones fly over the country at the same time at night, it is no longer just shelling, but a stress test for the entire defense system. Ukraine withstood this time too, but almost half of the missiles reached their targets — this is a signal that cannot be ignored.
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Attack composition: Zircon, ballistics, cruise missiles and hundreds of drones
On the night of January 20, Russia carried out one of the largest combined strikes in recent months: more than 70 missiles of various types and more than 300 strike drones were launched at Ukraine, including the use of the Zircon hypersonic anti-ship missile.2 According to the Air Force, Iskander-M and S-300 ballistic missiles, Kh-101 cruise missiles and other types of weapons, as well as a massive swarm of Shahed loitering munitions and their modifications, were simultaneously operating in the air.2 The main direction of the attack was the Kyiv region, but the Rivne, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia and Odessa regions also came under fire, and in parallel the enemy tried to disable energy facilities throughout the country.2 .
According to preliminary information, the Russian army used at least one Zircon hypersonic missile, 18 Iskander-M/S-300 ballistic missiles, more than a dozen Kh-101 cruise missiles, as well as other types of high-precision weapons, supplemented by more than 300 Shahed, Geran, Italmas and similar strike drones.2 This combination allowed the enemy to make the work of air defense as difficult as possible: simultaneous launches, different speeds and trajectories forced the Ukrainian command to constantly choose priority targets - first of all, fast ballistic and hypersonic missiles, and only then slower drones and cruise missiles.2 .
Air defense work: hundreds of targets shot down, but some missiles broke through
Despite the scale of the attack, Ukrainian air defenses demonstrated a high interception rate. As of this morning, the Air Force reported 342 destroyed air targets: 14 Iskander-M/S-300 ballistic missiles, 13 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 315 enemy drones of various types.2 Some of the missiles and drones were not only shot down, but also “jammed” with electronic warfare, forcing them to deviate from their route and fall in undeveloped areas.2 .
At the same time, the strikes proved painful: at least five missile hits and two dozen strike drone hits were recorded in 11 locations across Ukraine, as well as the fall of debris from downed aircraft in many other places.2 It was these losses that gave rise to the formula that "almost half of the more than 70 missiles" reached their targets or caused destruction, even despite the generally successful work of the air defense.2 This vividly demonstrates the paradox of modern missile defense: a few breakthroughs against the backdrop of hundreds of downed targets mean real destruction and human casualties.
Hypersonic "Zircon": a new challenge for Ukrainian air defense
Particular attention during the January attack was drawn to the use of the Zircon missile, which Russia presents as a new generation hypersonic anti-ship weapon.1 Open sources indicate that these missiles are launched from carriers in the Black Sea and from the area of temporarily occupied Crimea, have supersonic speed and a complex flight trajectory, which makes them difficult to detect and intercept.1 Ukrainian and international analysts have already recorded previous cases of the use of Zircons against Kyiv and Sumy region, and the latest strikes have confirmed that Russia continues to test this weapon in real war conditions.1 .
Despite aggressive Russian propaganda about the "invulnerability" of hypersonic missiles, practice shows that Ukrainian air defense is capable of dealing with this type of threat. Publications in recent years have recorded cases of shooting down "Zircons" over Kyiv, and experts have noted that their actual accuracy and trajectory stability are far from ideal and often require "combat tests," which Moscow conducts specifically in Ukrainian cities.1 The very fact of using Zircons against ground targets indicates that the Russian command seeks to put psychological pressure on Ukrainian society and at the same time demonstrate to the West the presence of "new trump cards" in its arsenal.
New missiles in 2026: Russia increases production
Another alarming signal in recent weeks is the appearance in the wreckage of downed missiles of markings from 2026, the year of manufacture.3 According to Ukrainian officials and analysts, Russia is already using some of the missiles manufactured in 2026, including the updated Kh-101 cruise missiles.3 This means that despite sanctions and technological restrictions, the Russian military-industrial complex has managed to establish mass production of missile weapons, albeit with the active use of imported components, which the Kremlin continues to receive in circumvention of restrictions.3 .
Experts warn: the appearance of "fresh" missiles over Ukraine indicates not only large stocks accumulated before the war, but also the ability to continue missile terror in the medium term3 This makes the issue of strengthening air defense not just urgent, but strategic: without expanding the range and number of missile defense systems and interceptors, Ukraine risks facing prolonged waves of combined strikes, where each new series of missiles is a product of Russian factories, and not just the decommissioning of old warehouses.3 .
Tactics of massive combined strikes: the logic of Russian strategy
The January attack fits into the combined strike tactic that Russia has been using since late 2023: the simultaneous use of ballistic, cruise missiles, and strike drones from different directions to overload Ukrainian air defenses.2 The principle is simple: when there are hundreds of targets in the sky at the same time with different speeds and trajectories, calculations must determine priorities, and there is always a risk that some of the weapons will break through to the targets.2 At the same time, the enemy seeks to cover "expensive" missiles like Zircon or Iskander with a mass of relatively cheap drones.
Such strikes are often timed to coincide with periods of cooling or peak loads on the power system, allowing the enemy to maximize the effect of even a limited number of hits.2 . The targets of combined attacks are not only energy facilities, but also industrial enterprises, transport hubs, military logistics and defense plants. Each such night becomes a test for Ukraine not only for air defense, but also for the stability of the energy system and the ability to quickly restore damaged infrastructure.2 .
Impacts: energy, housing, industry
Despite the high effectiveness of air defense, recorded missile and drone hits led to damage to energy facilities and civilian infrastructure in several regions.2 . Distribution substations, transformer stations, industrial buildings, and in some places residential buildings were damaged. Local authorities reported temporary power outages, water and heat outages, and repair crews worked in an intensive mode, often under repeated air raid warnings.2 .
A separate risk factor remains the fall of debris from downed missiles and drones: even a successful interception does not guarantee that a large metal structure will not fall on residential areas, industrial facilities or infrastructure.2 That is why the military constantly emphasizes the importance of staying in shelters during an alarm and warns against attempts to film air defense work from balconies or roofs, which is not only dangerous, but can also reveal effective defense positions to the enemy.2 .
International dimension: "Zircon" as a signal to the West
The use of Zircons against Ukraine has not only a military but also a political dimension. Moscow seeks to show the West that it is capable of using “the latest hypersonic weapons” and supposedly maintains a technological advantage that sanctions and export controls have not been able to break.1 In the Russian information field, these strikes are presented as “tests of promising systems” and a “NATO signal,” although in reality, Ukrainian cities and communities are becoming the “testing ground” for these experiments.1 .
It is important for Kyiv and its partners to debunk the myth of the absolute "invulnerability" of such missiles by publicly recording cases of their interception and pointing out problems with accuracy and reliability.1 At the same time, the very appearance of the Zircons in the skies over Ukraine strengthens the arguments in favor of additional missile and air defense systems — in particular, those capable of operating against high-speed targets at high altitudes, as well as the deployment of more early detection radars.3 .
What does this attack mean for the future of Ukrainian air defense?
The January night, when more than 70 missiles and hundreds of drones simultaneously attacked Ukraine, proved once again: even very effective air defense cannot provide 100% protection in the event of large-scale combined strikes.2 Each new massive shelling is both a lesson and an argument for partners: additional Patriot batteries, SAMP/T, NASAMS, IRIS-T, more ammunition, as well as an expansion of the network of mobile groups and electronic warfare means are needed.3 .
For Russia, such strikes are an attempt to exhaust Ukrainian air defense, force it to spend expensive interceptor missiles against relatively cheap drones, and at the same time exert psychological pressure on the population. For Ukraine, it is necessary to develop its own production of missiles and drones in parallel with defense, strengthen local missile defense of cities and critical infrastructure, and seek tighter control over the export of technologies that will allow Russia to produce missiles by 2026.3 .
Sources
- Ukrainian and international analytical materials on the characteristics and use of Zircon hypersonic missiles and their first combat launches in Ukraine.
- Reports from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Ukrainian media about the massive attack on the night of January 20: composition of the strike, directions, number of downed targets and hits.
- Statements by Ukrainian officials and relevant experts regarding Russia's use of 2026-produced missiles, upgraded Kh-101s, and attempts to circumvent sanctions.
