RIGHT SPEAK: ISW: RU Unable to Sustain Repeated Large-Scale Missile Strikes Against UKR; 42 Combat Clashes with RUs on Front Line Past 24hrs; RUs Attack on 8 Fronts, Most Attacks Repelled; 85% of RU Aerial Targets Shot Down Since Start of Full-Scale War, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

Russia unable to sustain repeated large-scale missile strikes against Ukraine - ISW

Current Russian missile and drone reserves and production rates likely do not allow Russian forces to conduct regular large-scale missile strikes, but likely do allow for more consistent drone strikes.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in its Russian offensive campaigns assessment for December 29, Ukrinform reports.

According to ISW analysts, Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Deputy Chief Major General Vadym Skibitskyi stated on November 6 that Russian forces produced 115 long-range high-precision missiles in October 2023, including 30 Iskander-M cruise missiles, 12 Iskander-K cruise missiles, 20 Kalibr cruise missiles, 40 Kh-101 cruise missiles, 9 Kh-32 cruise missiles, and 4 Kinzhal ballistic missiles. Skibitskyi also stated that Russian forces had a total of 870 high-precision operational-strategic and strategic missiles in reserve in November and that this number increased by 285 missiles between August and November.

"Although Ukrainian officials have recently stated that Russian forces have partially restored their cruise missile stockpiles, Skibitskyi's statements about recent Russian missile reserve totals and monthly production rates indicate that Russian forces are unable to sustain repeated large-scale missile strikes comparable to the December 29 strike series," ISW said.

At the same time, ISW analysts said that Russia is able to domestically produce Shahed-136/131 drones at a much higher rate, however, largely due to the creation and expansion of the drone production facility in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in the Republic of Tatarstan.

The Institute for Science and International Security reported on November 13 that even after a one-month delay in production the Alabuga facility planned to produce 1,400 Shahed-136 drones between February and October 2023 and plans to produce a total of 6,000 drones by September 2025. --->READ MORE HERE

Photo: General Staff of the Armed Forces

42 combat clashes with Russians on front line in past 24 hours – General Staff report:

On 31 December, 42 combat clashes with Russian forces took place at the front during the day.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook , information as of 18:00 on 31 December

Quote: "During the day there were 42 combat clashes. In total, the enemy launched 12 missile strikes and 58 air strikes, some of which involved Shahed 136/131-type attack drones, and carried out 48 attacks from multiple-launch rocket systems on our troops’ positions and on settlements."

Details: Russian invaders launched attacks on the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mariinka, Shakhtarsk and Zaporizhzhia fronts.

In addition, Russian forces attempted to knock out Ukrainian units from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro River, making nine failed assault actions on these positions in the course of the day. --->READ MORE HERE