Ukrainian air defense forces successfully intercepted 220 out of 227 drones launched by Russia on May 2, according to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The attack involved various types of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), including the Shahed model, which accounted for approximately 135 of the drones.
The Russian military deployed these drones from multiple locations, including Shatalovo, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Gvardeyskoye in temporarily occupied Crimea. The interception efforts were reported to have occurred across northern, southern, central, and western Ukraine.
Military sources indicated that seven drones struck six different sites, with debris from the intercepted drones landing in five locations. Sergey Tsekhotsky, head of the communication center for the Southern Defense Forces, noted that on May 1, air defense units had neutralized 399 aerial targets, including 93 Shahed drones, 21 reconnaissance UAVs, and 285 strike drones of the Molniya and Lancet types.
Tsekhotsky emphasized the systematic and precise nature of the air defense operations, stating, “The enemy is attempting to exert pressure through mass attacks, but our air defense calculations are responding effectively. We thank everyone who protects our skies.”
Russian forces have been persistently targeting Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure using various weapons, including strike drones, missiles, and multiple rocket launchers. Ukrainian authorities and international organizations have classified these attacks as war crimes, asserting that they are deliberate in nature.
Attacks on essential services and healthcare facilities are viewed as attempts to deprive civilians of electricity, heating, water supply, communication, and medical assistance, which some officials have described as genocidal actions. The Russian government, however, denies that its military conducts targeted strikes against civilian infrastructure, claiming that such allegations are unfounded.
Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted the majority of Russian drones in a recent attack, highlighting ongoing military engagements. The attacks on civilian infrastructure have drawn international condemnation as potential war crimes.