On the night of May 21, Russian forces launched a significant aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying an Iskander-M ballistic missile from the Rostov region and 116 strike drones, including Shahed models, along with various other types. Ukrainian Air Force officials reported that their air defense systems successfully intercepted 109 of the incoming drones.
The drones were reportedly launched from multiple locations, including Kursk, Bryansk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and from the Crimean Peninsula. The Ukrainian defense employed a combination of aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups to counter the attack.
As of 08:30 on May 21, preliminary reports indicated that the air defense had neutralized 109 hostile drones across northern, southern, and eastern regions of Ukraine. Additionally, there were confirmed strikes from a ballistic missile and five strike drones at five separate locations, with debris from intercepted drones falling in four areas.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, several Russian drones remained active in the airspace during the incident.
A recent Russian aerial assault on Ukraine involved a ballistic missile and numerous drones, with Ukrainian air defenses successfully intercepting the majority of the threats. The coordinated response from Ukrainian forces highlights ongoing tensions and the persistent threat of aerial attacks in the region.