The Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had succeeded in downing a Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 (NATO reporting name Flanker). The ministry further claimed to have shot down multiple High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rockets and several dozen drones since the start of the New Year.

Moscow also launched strikes targeting Kyiv in the new year, deploying a total of 81 drones toward Ukrainian territory over the weekend.

President Volodymyr Zelensky added that the Russian army also strikes settlements close to the front line with guided aerial bombs every day.

Russia on Saturday vowed to retaliate after it accused Ukraine of firing U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles at the border region of Belgorod the previous day. Outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Kyiv to use the long-range weapons against Russia last year,