Russia uses Kh-55SM cruise missiles with nuclear warhead to strike Ukraine

By: Mykhailo Stoliar | 16.01.2025, 09:17
X-55SM wreckage found: details of the March 2024 event The wreckage of the X-55SM. March 2024. Source: Національна поліція

On the night of 15 January 2025, Russia launched a combined long-range attack on the territory of Ukraine, using 117 air assets. Ukrainian forces neutralised 100% of drones and 85% of cruise and guided missiles.

Here's What We Know

On the night of 15 January 2025, Russia launched a combined long-range attack on the territory of Ukraine, using 117 air strikes. Ukrainian forces neutralised 100% of drones and 85% of cruise and guided missiles.

The attack was carried out using various types of weapons, including

  • Kh-55SM and Kh-555 cruise missiles launched from Tu-95MS;
  • a ballistic missile (Iskander or KN-23);
  • 7 Kh-22 or X-32 missiles;
  • 4 Kalibr sea-launched cruise missiles;
  • 27 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
  • 4 X-59 or X-69 guided missiles;
  • 74 "Shahed" drones and imitators.
The wreckage of the Kh-55SM. November 2024. Illustration: SES
The wreckage of the Kh-55SM. November 2024. Illustration: SES

A total of 43 missiles were used. A feature of this attack was the use of Kh-55SM missiles, which are standard nuclear warheads but were used with massive mock-ups of warheads to confuse Ukrainian air defences. These missiles, which can travel up to 3,500 km, have been used by Russia to attack Ukraine since November 2022.

Intercepting the Kh-22, X-32 and ballistic missiles remains difficult due to the limited number of Patriot and SAMP-T air defence systems.

The main target of the attack was gas infrastructure facilities in Kharkiv, Lviv and Ivano-Frankivsk regions. No information on significant damage was available at the time of publication.

Source: Ukrainian Air Force Command