Ukraine air force claims 45 Iranian attack drones shot down over New Year

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine shot down 45 Russian drones overnight as the pro-Western country rang in the New Year, the air force said on Sunday.

In a New Year’s Eve assault, Moscow attacked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with missiles and Iranian-made drones.

Ukraine’s air force said in a statement that air defenses destroyed 45 Shahed drones. The Shahed drone is made by Iran and Ukraine has accused the Islamic Republic of supplying Russian with the weapons.

Thirteen drones were shot down at the end of 2022 and another 32 in the new year, the statement said.

Ukrainian authorities did not say if any of the drones reached their targets.

Andriy Nebitov, the head of the Kyiv police, posted on Facebook a picture of wreckage of a downed drone that featured the words “Happy New Year” in Russian.

“That is everything you need to know about the terror state and its army,” he wrote.

This is a Russian drone that was fired at #Kyiv ????????. It says "happy new year". The picture says "boom." pic.twitter.com/eNPphD63u7

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— David Patrikarakos (@dpatrikarakos) January 1, 2023

The attacks came as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine enters its 11th month.

After a series of humiliating military defeats, Russia in October began targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure, leaving millions in the cold and dark.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.