Russian Aerial Attacks on Ukraine Drop by 50%
Russia’s attacks against Ukraine with guided aerial bombs have decreased significantly since Western partners allowed Kyiv to target Russia with long-range missiles.
According to reports from the General Staff, Russian aircraft dropped at least 100 guided aerial bombs per day from November 1-20. However, this number fell sharply after November 20, with only 138 bombs dropped on that day. The average number of bombs per day is now 40 or fewer.
Analysts believe that the decrease in attacks was due to the threat posed by long-range missile strikes against Russian airfields. The Russian military may have moved their Su-34 aircraft farther than 600 kilometers from the front line to avoid ATACMS strikes, affecting maintenance and flight hours.
U.S. President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the green light to attack Russian territory with ATACMS missiles in mid-November. Within days, Kyiv reportedly launched British Storm Shadows into Russia for the first time.
The decrease in aerial attacks comes as Ukraine faces an increasingly dangerous situation on the ground. The Russian military has advanced towards Pokrovsk, where Ukraine has lost key positions in recent days.
U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that President Biden approved a new security assistance package for Ukraine, which will provide additional air defense, artillery, drones, and armored vehicles.
In other news, a Russian-controlled court sentenced 20-year-old Mikhail Karimov to 11 years in prison. As of December 2024, 301 Ukrainian civilian women are in Russian captivity, with 25 detained before Russia’s full-scale invasion and 276 taken since.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte warned that the alliance is not ready for the threats it will face from Russia in the coming years.