During the missile strike on 2 January, Russia used an Kh-101 missile, which was manufactured in the fourth quarter of 2023. This information is confirmed by the relevant photos published by the Defense Express journalists.
Russian occupiers encrypt their missiles
According to the journalists of the publication, the occupiers began to invent more sophisticated methods, putting serial numbers on their missiles so that they are difficult to decipher.
For example, if you look at a photo of a downed Russian Kh-101 missile, you will see that the first six digits of its serial number are very "mysterious".
Missiles produced around 2023 start with the 315 serial numbers, and 263 are the first Kh-101 serial numbers produced after 2020. The fact that the downed missile was manufactured in the fourth quarter of 2023 is indicated by the number 9 in the missile number. In other words, "5" must be subtracted from the seventh digit in the serial number, and this will show the number of the quarter in which the missile was manufactured, the journalists of the publication explain.
It is noted that the Russian occupiers are doing this in order to conceal the likely origin of the parts used to manufacture cruise missiles for strikes on the territory of Ukraine.
The fact that the Russians have used an Kh-101 manufactured in Q4 2023 does not mean that Russia's missile arsenal is currently running out. This may indicate the speed of missile production and affect the intervals between possible future Russian missile attacks, the report concluded.
Russian missile attack on Ukraine on January 2: what is known
In the morning, the Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 83 missiles, and the Ukrainian air defence forces destroyed 72 air targets.
In particular, they managed to shoot down 10 out of 10 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles, 59 out of 70 Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-55 cruise missiles and 3 out of 3 Kalibr cruise missiles.
The attack targeted Kyiv and Kharkiv. In the capital, 2 people were killed and 43 were injured. Fires were reported in 8 districts. In the Solomyansk district, a fire broke out in two multi-storey residential buildings.
In the Kyiv region, 2 people were killed, 11 more were injured, including a child.
Kharkiv was attacked by Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile systems. About 25 objects of civilian infrastructure and multi-storey buildings were destroyed. 45 civilians were injured, one person was killed.
