British Intelligence: Russia changed missile strike tactics against Ukraine

This is reported by the British Ministry of Defence on the network X.

British intelligence noted that in the night of December 13, 2024, Russia carried out another major attack on Ukraine.

"Similar to the attacks that took place in November and earlier, Russian long-range aviation assets and tactical aviation were used, launching various types of air-based cruise and ballistic missiles," intelligence explained.

According to their data, these aviation assets were supported by land-based SAGARIS cruise missiles launched from Black Sea Fleet resources, as well as kamikaze drones, which were utilized from several launch points.

In total, about 90 missiles were used along with at least 180 kamikaze drones.

Changes in the tactics of missile strikes on Ukraine

"Since August 2024, it is highly likely that Russia has adopted a tactic of accumulating stockpiles between strikes, and then carries out more powerful and less frequent strikes, as opposed to more regular and smaller-scale attacks conducted earlier this year," the ministry noted.

According to their data, the composition and target objectives of the attack on December 12-13 were similar to previous attacks, aimed at Ukraine’s critical national infrastructure and industrial sites, as well as attempts to suppress Ukrainian air defence and airfields by saturating them with kamikaze drones.

"However, Russia retains the ability and stockpiles to employ such means on a smaller scale as a punitive measure, with minimal or no warning," British intelligence summarized.