Russian Strategic Bombers Take Flight for First Major Strike Since September

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has ordered the deployment of air defense assets to protect key facilities, though he noted that Ukraine remains entirely dependent on foreign partners for critical anti-ballistic missile capabilities. This operation is the first major Russian use of strategic bombers since September 8 and occurs on the eve of Vladimir Putin's 74th birthday. Intelligence indicates that the missile threat window will likely span from midnight to 8:00 a.m.