Starting the night of May 13, Russian forces launched a series of drone attacks across Ukraine, affecting major cities including Kyiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Rivne, and Lutsk, among others.
In a morning statement, President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that over a hundred drones had been deployed against Ukrainian territory. He cautioned that additional waves of drone strikes could occur throughout the day.
“Russia continues its assaults with audacity, deliberately targeting our railway infrastructure and civilian sites in cities,” he stated.
Zelensky also noted that 14 regions were under Russian fire the previous night, resulting in casualties and injuries.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine indicated that Russia had initiated a combined and prolonged airstrike aimed at critical facilities within the country. According to their reports, the first wave of attacks involved a significant number of drones intended to overwhelm air defense systems and hit civilian targets. Following this, Russia is expected to launch cruise and ballistic missiles at key infrastructure, essential services in major cities, energy facilities, defense enterprises, and government buildings.
As of 2 PM, reports from the Air Force and monitoring Telegram channels indicated that most of the drones launched by Russia were heading toward western regions of Ukraine.
Impact of the Russian Attacks
In Khmelnytskyi, at least three individuals were injured due to the attacks and were hospitalized in moderate condition, according to the city’s mayor, Oleksandr Symchyshyn.
In Odesa, a fire broke out in a courtyard as a result of the strikes, with several vehicles igniting. Preliminary reports indicate one person was injured.
In Kyiv, debris from intercepted drones fell in the Obolon district, as reported by regional head Tymur Tkachenko. Initial assessments suggested no injuries occurred.
By midday, correspondents from Suspilne reported multiple explosions in Rivne, Lutsk, Zhytomyr, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, and Mykolaiv.
Updates on the situation are ongoing.
Russian forces intensified drone attacks across Ukraine, targeting critical infrastructure and civilian areas. President Zelensky warned of ongoing threats, while reports indicate injuries and damage in multiple regions.