On the night of May 17, the Russian military launched an extensive drone attack against Ukraine, deploying 287 strike drones, including models such as Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and imitation drones known as Parody. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the country’s air defense forces successfully neutralized 279 of these drones.
The assault began at 19:00 on May 16, with drones being launched from various locations in Russia, including Orel, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Shatalovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk. The Ukrainian military reported that their air defense units, comprising aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups, managed to intercept or suppress the majority of the incoming threats.
By 08:30 on May 17, Ukrainian forces had recorded hits from eight strike drones at seven different locations, with debris from the intercepted drones falling in various areas across the country.
“New groups of enemy drones are present in the airspace. Please adhere to safety protocols!” the Ukrainian Air Force advised.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported a successful interception of 279 out of 287 Russian drones during a nighttime attack on May 17. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict and the effectiveness of Ukraine's air defense systems.