Nearly 20 strikes as drones and ballistic missiles target Ukraine, air defense responds
Illustrative photo: air defense forces shot down 247 Russian drones (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
On the night of May 3, Russia attacked Ukraine with an Iskander-M missile system ballistic missile and 268 strike drones. Ukraine's air defense forces managed to intercept the majority of enemy UAVs, according to the Air Force of Ukraine.
From 7:00 p.m. on May 2 to the morning of May 3, Russia launched an Iskander-M missile system ballistic missile from the Kursk region, as well as 268 strike drones of the Shahed type (including jet-powered variants), Gerbera, Italmas, and other UAVs from directions including Kursk, Shatalovo, Oryol, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as occupied Crimea (Hvardiiske, Chauda) and occupied Donetsk.
More than 160 of the launched drones were Shaheds.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of Ukraine's Defense Forces.
According to preliminary data as of 8:00 a.m., air defenses shot down or suppressed 249 enemy UAVs of the Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and other types across the north, south, west, and east of the country.
A ballistic missile strike and 19 drones were recorded hitting 15 locations, while debris from downed UAVs fell at one location.
"The attack is ongoing, several enemy UAVs remain in the airspace. Follow safety rules," the Air Force warned.
Attacks on Ukraine
As a reminder, explosions were heard in Kyiv on the evening of May 2. Air defense systems were active as the city came under Russian drone attack.
In addition, earlier that day, from morning until 6:00 p.m., Russia launched 227 drones against Ukraine. Of those, 200 were shot down by air defense forces.
Russian forces also carried out a mass drone attack on Kharkiv in the morning, striking residential buildings and gas stations, leaving people injured.
