Ukraine downs hundreds of drones overnight, Air Force says
File photo: Air defense forces shot down 269 Russian drones (Vitalii Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
On the night of May 16, Russia attacked Ukraine with 294 strike drones from various directions. Air defense forces managed to shoot down most of the enemy UAVs. However, there were impacts, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
From evening until morning, the Russians attacked with 294 Shahed-type strike drones (including jet-powered ones), Gerbera, Italmas, and Parodiya-type decoy drones from the directions of Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Shatalovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as Chauda and Hvardiiske in the temporarily occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare, unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
According to preliminary data, as of 09:00 a.m. (Kyiv time), air defense had shot down or suppressed 269 enemy Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas, and Parodiya-type decoy drones in the north, south, center, and east of the country.
Hits by 20 strike drones were recorded at 15 locations, as well as falling debris at 9 locations.
"The attack is ongoing, several enemy UAVs remain in the airspace. Follow safety rules!" the Air Force warned.
Attacks on Ukraine
On the night of May 16, Russian troops massively attacked the south of the Odesa region with strike drones. Residential and port infrastructure was damaged, and there were casualties.
In the morning, an enemy drone struck the central part of Kharkiv in the Shevchenkivskyi district. Two metro exits, the contact network of the city's electric transport system, a trolleybus, and a public transport stop were damaged. One person was injured.
On May 15, Russians attacked a suburban train in the Zaporizhzhia region with a kamikaze drone. The enemy UAV hit near one of the train cars, injuring two passengers.
On the night of May 15, the enemy launched a combined missile and drone strike on the Odesa region. There were casualties as a result of the attack, and damage was recorded in residential areas.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that the previous night, Russia launched six missiles and 141 strike drones at Ukraine from various directions. Ukrainian air defense destroyed most of the enemy targets; however, impacts were recorded in some regions.
