In the early hours of May 20, Ukraine faced a significant aerial assault from Russia, involving 154 attack drones, including models such as Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas, along with a ballistic missile launched from an Iskander-M system.
According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, their air defense units successfully neutralized 131 of these drones during the operation. The defense efforts were supported by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups from Ukraine’s defense forces.
As reported by the Air Forces, by 8:30 AM, the air defense had managed to shoot down or suppress 131 enemy drones across various regions, including the north, south, and east of the country.
The Air Forces also noted that the attack resulted in the impact of a ballistic missile and 23 attack drones across 20 locations, with debris falling in six areas. Despite the successful interceptions, the Russian aerial assault is ongoing, with several drones still active in Ukrainian airspace.
Ukraine's air defense forces demonstrated significant effectiveness in countering a large-scale drone attack from Russia, intercepting the majority of incoming threats. However, the situation remains fluid as remnants of the assault continue to pose risks in various regions.