Overview
- Russia’s Defense Ministry said air defenses destroyed 168 Ukrainian aircraft‑type UAVs overnight on January 1, including nine reported as heading toward Moscow.
- The ministry later reported 201 additional fixed‑wing UAVs downed between 16:00 and 23:00 on January 1, with the largest tallies over Belgorod, Bryansk and the Moscow Region.
- The Russian reports listed interceptions across numerous regions and the Sea of Azov, describing waves that stretched from border areas to the approaches to Moscow.
- Ukraine’s Air Force said Russian forces launched 116 drones from multiple Russian cities and occupied Crimea starting the evening of January 1, and that 86 were destroyed or jammed by the morning of January 2.
- Ukrainian officials said about 70 of the attacking UAVs were Shaheds, reported 27 drone strikes at 23 locations, and warned that some drones were still in the airspace as of 08:30 on January 2.