The State Emergency Service reported that sappers in Kyiv discovered and neutralized a Russian X-55 cruise missile, which the aggressor used for a new massive strike on November 28, 2024.
This indicates that the Russians have returned to the practice of using such cruise missiles as a means to saturate our air defense after a lengthy hiatus. Furthermore, prior to this, there had been no reports of Russia employing the X-55, in addition to the X-101 and "Caliber," for a new large-scale attack on our energy infrastructure.
It remains unknown what specific warhead was attached to this X-55. Typically, the type of missiles used by the Russians during massive strikes were equipped with large-scale decoy warheads.
However, this news about the discovered and neutralized X-55 should be viewed in a broader context, as the fact of its detection complements the overall picture of the massive strike on our energy sector that occurred on November 28, 2024.
To begin with, it should be noted that this time the Russians likely resorted to using at least one "decoy" missile alongside the extensive deployment of various types of drones (up to 95 units). It is probable that this decision was made based on the outcomes of previous large-scale strikes on our territory.
Additionally, it appears that the Russians decided to use the X-55 to saturate our air defenses, especially considering that the air-launched X-101 missiles in their modernized version are equipped with thermal decoys to counter missiles from MANPADS.
It is also important to note that the X-55 has become scarce for the Russians, as the engines from these missiles have begun to be utilized by the Russian defense industry to equip the very same X-101s.
Overall, this provides a comprehensive overview of the new massive attack by the Russians that took place on November 28, 2024.