During a Russian attack, Ukraine’s air defenses destroyed a ballistic missile headed for Kharkiv, according to monitoring channels. They say this is the first such interception since the start of the full-scale invasion.
A video published online purports to show the ballistic missile being shot down over the city.
Intercepting such targets had previously been considered technically impossible because the missiles’ flight time is only 40–90 seconds.
Photos of missile debris that damaged a local dining establishment were also posted online.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said an infrastructure facility in the Slobidskyi district was hit. He also reported missile debris falling near apartment buildings.
Oleh Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, said there were no reports of casualties.
On January 5, Russian forces carried out several missile strikes on Kharkiv’s Slobidskyi district. A reconnaissance drone adjusted the attack, after which an entire block was on fire.
On January 2, Russian forces struck central Kharkiv. One of the Iskander missiles used in the attack hit a residential high-rise, almost completely destroying it.
