Russia wants to exhaust air defense and energy of Ukraine, the president suggested.

Russia is planning a prolonged attack by Iranian Shahed kamikaze drones.

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy made such a statement in his evening video message on January 2, noting that only two days have passed since the beginning of 2023, and the number of downed Iranian drones over Ukraine is already over eighty.

“We have information that Russia is planning a long-term Shahed attack. Its bet may be on exhaustion. On the exhaustion of our people, air defense, our energy. But we must do – and we will do everything – so that this goal of the terrorists fails, like all the rest,” the head of state said.

He also praised the “Center”, “South” and “East” air commands for the successful defense of the sky these days.

“And especially the soldiers of the 96th Kyiv, 208th Kherson and 138th Dnipro anti-aircraft missile brigades, the 301st Nikopol anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Air Force, as well as the soldiers of the 39th anti-aircraft missile regiment of the Ground Forces. I thank, of course, our pilots, pilots of our fighters and fighters of mobile fire groups. Now is the time when everyone involved in the defense of the sky should be especially careful,” Zelenskyy said.

Attacks of the Russian Federation by drones in 2023 – what was reported

As reported, on January 1, the Russian invaders carried out 51 airstrikes on Ukraine, in particular, they used 44 Shahed 136 UAVs, on January 2 – 27 airstrikes.

The latest massive Russian attacks by Iranian drones in the Office of the President of Ukraine were called the “agony” of the Russian Federation.