Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported that since the beginning of May 13, Russia has launched at least 800 drones against Ukraine, with ongoing attacks expected to continue into the night.
In a statement on social media, Zelensky noted the timing of these assaults coincides with U.S. President Joe Biden’s visit to China, suggesting that Russia may be attempting to disrupt the geopolitical landscape and draw attention to its military actions.
According to Zelensky, Russian forces have been targeting regions close to NATO borders, with confirmed strikes in areas such as Transcarpathia, Lviv, Volyn, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Rivne. Additional impacts have been reported in several other regions, including Vinnytsia, Chernivtsi, Khmelnytskyi, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia, Zhytomyr, Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Sumy, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, and Kherson.
The president confirmed that the attacks have resulted in dozens of injuries, including children, and reported six fatalities. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
Zelensky stated that emergency services are currently engaged in addressing the aftermath of the drone strikes. However, he emphasized that the assault is ongoing, with additional drones entering Ukrainian airspace and the possibility of missile strikes later in the evening.
He added, “According to our intelligence, after the waves of drones, missile launches against Ukraine are also likely. Our forces are defending the country, but it is clear that Russia’s objective is to overload our air defense systems and inflict as much suffering as possible during this critical time. It is important for the world to remain aware of this situation. The true intentions of Russia must be clear to leaders and nations, and there must be real pressure on the Russian aggressor to end this terror.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has reported extensive drone attacks from Russia, with at least 800 drones launched since May 13. The strikes have resulted in casualties and damage across multiple regions, raising concerns about the ongoing military actions amid significant geopolitical events.