In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russian forces launched a combined attack on Ukraine during the night of May 14, deploying 675 drones and 56 missiles. The Ukrainian Air Force reported that their air defense systems successfully intercepted 652 drones and 41 missiles during this assault.
The offensive began around 6 PM on May 13, following a previous day of intense drone strikes. Russian military units continued their barrage, utilizing a mix of aerial and ground-based missiles alongside various types of drones, with the primary target being Kyiv.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, a total of 731 aerial threats were detected and tracked, which included:
- 3 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles;
- 18 Iskander-M and S-400 ballistic missiles;
- 35 Kh-101 cruise missiles;
- 675 strike drones, including Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, loitering munitions like Bandero, and decoy drones such as Parody.
As of 8 AM, preliminary reports indicated that air defense forces had neutralized 693 targets, comprising 41 missiles and 652 various drones. Among the intercepted missiles were 29 Kh-101 cruise missiles and 12 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles.
The Ukrainian military noted that the attack resulted in 15 missiles and 23 strike drones hitting 24 locations, with drone debris falling in 18 areas. The aerial assault appears to be ongoing, with new groups of strike drones entering Ukrainian airspace.
A coordinated assault by Russian forces on Ukraine involved 675 drones and 56 missiles, with Ukrainian defenses successfully intercepting the majority. The attack, which began on May 13, targeted multiple locations, primarily Kyiv, and continued into the following morning.