Ukraine Hails Motley Crew Who Shot Down Russian Missiles And Drones

Serhiy Nayev (third from right), the commander of Ukraine's joint forces, congratulates soldiers of a mobile air defense unit on January 3 who took part in defense operations during the January 2 Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv.

A missile explodes above Kyiv during the January 2 Russian drone and missile attack that killed three people and injured dozens in the Ukrainian capital.

The mobile air defense unit relies on improvised fighting vehicles comprised of civilian or noncombat vehicles that have been modified to carry heavy machine guns or antiaircraft cannons. 

Serhiy, 42, who reportedly shot down a cruise missile is congratulated by Lieutenant General Nayev (right) after being awarded with a medal.
 

A Ukrainian soldier inspects a fragment of a Shahed drone that was shot down by the unit.

Nayev, who oversees mobile air defense units in Kyiv and Ukraine's northern region, which are armed with portable guns rather than larger systems such as Patriots, warned that there is only enough ammunition "to withstand the next few powerful attacks."
 

A Ukrainian soldier who took part in the defense of Kyiv laughs during the ceremony. 

"Of course, we would like more missiles for Patriots and the systems themselves," Nayev said, referring to the larger U.S.-supplied surface-to-air missile systems that Kyiv claims were used to down 10 Kinzhal hypersonic ballistic missiles during the January 2 attack.

A video on social media purportedly captures the moment the unit shot down a Shahed drone with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun and an AK-74 during the Russian missile attack on Kyiv. 

RFE/RL has no way of verifying battlefield reports.

Kyiv says the latest attacks underline the need for Western allies to speed up delivery of promised military aid. The priority is more ammunition," Nayev said, since the Russians "really want to deplete our air defense system."