Ukraine: There Will Be Further Strikes Deeper Into Russian Territory, Russia Puts Hypersonic Missile Boat On Patrol

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent the Admiral Gorshkov frigate loaded with Russia's newest Zircon hypersonic missiles to patrol the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean Oceans. Image | mil.ru Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-4.0 | enhanced by Donald Standeford.

By Donald Standeford, SJ Founder/Publisher
January 06, 2023 06:30 am UTC
Modified: 2023-01-06 06:30 am

KYIV - The Ukrainian Intelligence Directorate says that there will likely be further strikes into Russia that go "deeper and deeper" into Russian territory. Russia has put a hypersonic missile boat on patrol in the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean Oceans.

The United Nations estimated 6,884 civilians died in Ukraine since Russia first invaded the country, but said the actual number is likely "considerably higher" than that.

The Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov told ABC News during an interview that there will "likely be further strikes into Russian territory" going "deeper and deeper" into Russia.

While he did not indicate whether or not Ukraine was responsible for the attack on Russia's Engels Air Force base on December 26th, 2022, which was about 800 miles away from Russia's border with Ukraine, he did say he was "glad to see it".

He added that he will only be able to divulge information about attacks that Ukraine is responsible for after the war, but said that attacks will be going "deeper and deeper" inside of Russian territory.

Budanov told ABC News that Ukraine is expecting Bradley Armored Fighting vehicles to be sent from the United States to Ukraine soon.

"We are waiting for them. We're looking forward to them very much. This will significantly improve the combat ability of our units," the news agency cited him as saying.

He said that he expects the peak of the fighting to come in March, and said that is when Ukraine is planning a major offensive, during the spring.

"This is [when we will see more] liberation of territories and dealing the final defeats to the Russian Federation. This will happen throughout Ukraine, from Crimea to the Donbas" he told ABC during the interview.

"Our goal, and we will achieve it, is returning to the borders of 1991 like Ukraine is recognized by all subjects of international law," he added.

Putin Sends Vessel Loaded With Latest Hypersonic MIssiles On Patrol Duty To Atlantic, Indian, Mediterranean Oceans.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent the Admiral Gorshkov frigate loaded with Russia's newest Zircon hypersonic missiles to patrol the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean Oceans.

Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that the frigate is armed with guided missiles and will be embarking on a long-range sea voyage across the Atlantic, Indian and Mediterranean Oceans.

"Today, frigate Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov with Tsirkon hypersonic missiles on board is embarking on a long-range sea voyage across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea".

"The main efforts during the campaign will be focused on countering Russia's threats, maintaining regional peace, and stability together with friendly countries," he added.

Putin said that the frigate is an example of "a great joint work, which brought good, expected results. It has no analogs in any country in the world".

He continued, "I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats and will help ensure the national interests of our country".

"We will continue to develop the combat potential of the Armed Forces and make advanced models of weapons and equipment that will guard Russia's security in the coming decades. This is a promising weapon," Putin added.

The Zircon hypersonic missiles are capable of traveling at speeds of Mach 9, or 9 times the speed of sound (over 7,000 miles per hour).

The Captain of the Gorshkov Igor Krokhmal said, "The ship has gone through a full cycle of preparations. The ship has been loaded with ammunition for missiles of the Zirkon, Caliber complexes, air defense systems, torpedo weapons, and artillery. The ship's crew is ready to perform combat service tasks," according to Rossiya 24 TV.

UN Says Civilians Killed In Ukraine "Considerably Higher" Than Estimated 6,884

The United Nations High Commissioner For Human Rights (OHCHR) released a statement that revealed an estimate of 6,884 civilians as having died in Ukraine since the beginning of Russia's war on the country, but noted that the number is likely to be "considerably higher" due to delayed information. 

The estimate of 6,884 civilian deaths is said by the United Nations as including 429 children between the starting date of the war on February 24th, 2022 to December 26th, 2022, though the statistics gathered have been delayed in areas where intense fighting has been ongoing.

The UN report said that the number is likely "considerably higher, as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration."

The number of wounded is estimated to be at least 10,947 people, including over 800 children, according to the OHCHR, but again the number is likely to be considerably higher due to the delay in reporting caused by the ongoing fighting in hotspots within the country.

Of the weapons, Russia is using in its ongoing war on Ukraine are multiple-launch rocket systems, heavy artillery, various types of missiles, Iranian-made Shahed 136 "Kamikaze Drones" and air strikes.

Russia's Iranian-made Shahed-136 "Kamikaze Drones", also called the Geranium-2 by Russia has explosives installed inside of a warhead in the nose of the drone. The drone hovers, or loiters over a location until it has acquired its target, then goes into a nosedive and detonates explosives upon reaching the acquired target.

Yevgeny Silkin, a Ukrainian official, however reportedly said on December 5th that Russia stopped using the suicide drones because they were not functioning properly in the cold weather, and had not been used since November 17th.

A newer report from December 11th, however from the Ukrainian news agency UNIAN said that Russia appeared to have restocked its Iranian-made drone supply and carried out a fresh wave of drone attacks on the country.

The reports again, said that Russia was having problems using the drones due to the fact that they are made of plastic and other materials that malfunction in cold weather and frost.

Ukrainian Air Force Command spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat and Ukrainian Southern Command Spokesperson Natalia Humeniuk said, after those reports that Russia had resolved the issue that the drones were having in the cold weather due to the frost and began using drones once again.