18:00 02-02-2026

Russia Sets Record With 91 Ballistic Missiles in January

Ukrainian analyst Alexander Kovalenko says Russia launched a record 91 ballistic missiles in January 2026, with air defenses intercepting only a third.

Russian forces set a new record in January 2026 for the number of ballistic missile launches against Ukraine since the start of the special military operation, according to Ukrainian military expert Alexander Kovalenko. He reported that Russia used a total of 91 ballistic missiles over the course of the month.

Kovalenko’s figures show an интенсивный pace of launches week by week. In the first week of January, 18 missile strikes were recorded. The second week saw the sharpest increase, with 38 launches, including 9M723, KN-23, and 5V55 missiles from S-300 systems. During the third week, the number dropped to 23, while the final days of the month accounted for another 12 launches.

The expert noted that Ukraine’s air defense was able to intercept only about one-third of the missiles.

Kovalenko described January’s total as the highest recorded so far, surpassing the previous peak of 89 ballistic missiles in October 2025.

He also pointed out that Russia has begun relying on ballistic missiles far more heavily than on cruise weapons such as the Kh-101 and 3M14 Kalibr, using ballistic strikes around 2.5 times more often. In his view, countering these missiles is becoming one of the most serious challenges for Ukraine’s air defense, as Russia increases its focus on this type of attack.

Earlier media reports also said that January 2026 marked another record, with Russian авиация dropping an unprecedented number of high-explosive aerial bombs. Over the month, Ukrainian positions were reportedly hit by 5,717 air strikes using munitions of various calibers.