16 Russian Tu-95 bombers launch cruise missiles: air-raid warnings issued in Ukraine

An air raid siren was announced due to a missile threat on the night of 1-2 January - 16 Russian strategic bombers Tu-95MS launched missiles. Explosions were reported in Kyiv and Kharkiv. The all-clear began to be given at around 09:47.

The air raid lasted for almost 4 hours. Source: Defence Forces of Ukraine's South; Kyiv City State Administration; Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Map showing air-raid warnings issues in Ukrainian oblasts marked in pink. Source: alerts.in.ua as of 06:00 on 2 January 2024

Details: Air-raid warnings were initially issued in the south of Ukraine, in several central oblasts, and in the city of Kyiv.

Ukraine's Air Force said there was a threat of Russian Tu-95MS jets launching cruise missiles on Ukraine, with 16 Russian Tu-95MS strategic bombers in the air.

At 06:23, air-raid warnings were extended to cover the rest of Ukraine.

Map showing air-raid warnings issues in Ukrainian oblasts marked in pink. Source: alerts.in.ua as of 06:23 on 2 January 2024

At 06:25, the Russian missiles were spotted in Sumy Oblast, heading towards the city of Myrhorod (Poltava Oblast). At 06:28, there was a threat of a ballistic missile attack in Kharkiv.

At 06:38, more missiles were spotted in Sumy Oblast, heading south-west. At 06:40, the Ukrainian military said another missile was heading from the south towards the city of Kropyvnytskyi. At 06:41, another missile was seen in the vicinity of Pereiaslav-Khmelnytskyi in Kyiv Oblast; it was heading west.

At 06:45, several missiles were spotted where Cherkasy and Kyiv oblasts meet; they were also heading west. Residents of Kropyvnytskyi were urged to take shelter as the missiles appeared to be heading in the direction of the city. At 06:47, one cluster of missiles was in the vicinity of the city of Myrhorod (Poltava Oblast) and was heading west, and another cluster of Russian missiles was entering Sumy Oblast.

At 06:51, missiles were seen in Kherson Oblast, heading northwest. Several missiles were advancing from Sumy Oblast, via Poltava Oblast, and towards Kyiv and Cherkasy oblasts. At 06:57, several missiles were still in the vicinity of the city of Kaniv, which is near the administrative border between Cherkasy and Kyiv oblasts, and were advancing west.

Several missiles were heading from Kherson Oblast to Kirovohrad Oblast. Missiles were also seen in the east of Vinnytsia Oblast, heading west. At 06:58, a missile was spotted heading towards Vinnytsia Oblast.

At 07:05, a missile changed its direction from Vinnytsia Oblast to Zhytomyr Oblast. The missiles on the border of Kyiv and Cherkasy oblasts were moving westward. Missiles in Kirovohrad Oblast, heading north-west (through Novoukrainsk district).

At 07:08, missiles were spotted heading towards Kyiv. At 07:16, the Air Force reported that missiles were flying through Cherkasy Oblast in the direction of Vinnytsia Oblast. Missiles from Kirovohrad Oblast were also flying in the direction of Vinnytsia Oblast.

Some of the missiles changed their direction to the north, while others headed west. At 07:17, a missile was spotted in Berdychiv district, Zhytomyr Oblast, heading west. At 07:18, a ballistic missile was heading from the south towards Kanatovo.

Update: At 09:47, the all-clear started to be given. Currently, the threat of Russian strikes remains in Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. Previously: Nine Tu-95MS strategic bomber jets took off from Russia's Olenya airfield in Murmansk Oblast in the early hours of 2 January.

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