Ukraine intercepts wave of drones overnight, but several manage to break through
Illustrative photo: Air defense shoots down 102 Russian drones (Getty Images)
On the night of May 23, Russia attacked Ukraine with 124 strike drones from multiple directions. Ukraine's air defense forces shot down most of the enemy UAVs, though some strikes still hit targets, according to the Ukrainian Air Force.
From evening to morning, the Russians launched 124 strike drones, including Shahed (some jet-powered), Gerber, Italmas, and decoy drones like Parodiya, from the following directions: Kursk, Shatalovo, Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Hvardiyske in the temporarily occupied Crimea.
The air assault was repelled by Ukrainian aviation, surface-to-air missile units, electronic warfare units, UAV systems, and mobile fire teams of the Defense Forces.
As of 08:30, preliminary data show that air defenses shot down or suppressed 102 enemy drones — including Shahed, Gerber, Italmas, and other types — across northern, southern, and eastern Ukraine.
There were confirmed impacts from 12 strike drones at 9 locations, and debris from downed drones fell in 5 locations.
"The attack is ongoing, with several groups of enemy drones in the airspace. Follow safety rules!" the Air Force warned.
Attacks across Ukraine
Earlier, the drone attack on the Poltava community on the night of May 23 caused a fire.
The blast shattered windows in administrative buildings and residential areas. No casualties were reported.
On the evening of May 22, Konotop was attacked by Shahed drones, worsening air quality as residents noticed the smell of burning.
Additionally, yesterday, a Russian strike on Dnipro destroyed a UNHCR humanitarian aid warehouse. The organization reported casualties among staff and the loss of aid intended for thousands of displaced people.
