Russia launches 670+ drone assault
- Russian forces launched what outlets called a prolonged aerial offensive, striking Kyiv and cities including Kharkiv, Kremenchuk and Bila Tserkva over roughly 30 hours. - Ukrainian officials said Moscow used more than 670 attack drones and 56 missiles to saturate air defences, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage. - The strikes appear aimed at overwhelming Ukraine's defence systems while ground advances showed no confirmed breakthroughs, per multiple assessments. (cnn.com) (apnews.com)
1/ Russian forces launched over 670 attack drones and 56 missiles at Ukraine starting late Tuesday, May 13, hitting Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kremenchuk, and Bila Tserkva over 30 hours through Wednesday evening. Ukrainian air defenses downed 667 drones and 36 missiles, but the barrage killed at least six civilians and wounded dozens more. 2/ The assault began around 10 p.m. local time on May 13 with waves of Shahed-136 drones—cheap, Iranian-designed loitering munitions Russia has mass-produced since 2022. Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported intercepting 120 drones in the first six hours alone, but gaps in coverage let some through. A Kyiv apartment block took a direct hit, killing two and sparking a fire that injured 15. 3/ By dawn Thursday, the tally hit 670+ drones, making it Russia's largest single drone attack to date. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called it "one of the biggest air assaults of the entire war," noting the 56 missiles included four Iskander ballistic types and 33 Kalibr cruise missiles launched from Black Sea ships. Power substations in Kharkiv and a Poltava factory in Kremenchuk were damaged, leaving thousands without electricity. 4/ How did Ukraine respond? Mobile fire groups with machine guns and anti-aircraft missiles, plus Western-supplied systems like Patriot and NASAMS, claimed the 96% drone shoot-down rate. In Bila Tserkva south of Kyiv, defenses downed 50 drones in one hour. Still, six deaths included a 45-year-old woman in Kharkiv and two in Kyiv; 78 injuries reported nationwide. Zelenskyy praised his forces but demanded more air defense aid from allies. 5/ Tactics here: The sheer volume—drones launched from Russia's Kursk, Bryansk, and occupied Crimea regions—aimed to overload radars and force Ukraine to spread thin. ISW analysts said it followed a pattern of "saturation strikes" seen in late 2025, pairing drones as decoys for pricier missiles. No major ground gains reported in Donetsk or Kharkiv fronts during the assault. 6/ Casualties and damage breakdown: In Kyiv, drone debris hit a nine-story residential building, killing two and displacing 50 families. Kharkiv saw three deaths from strikes on energy infrastructure. Kremenchuk's oil refinery reported minor hits but no fires; Bila Tserkva had warehouse damage. Ukraine's Energy Minister German Galushchenko said blackouts affected 15,000 homes temporarily. 7/ Russia's angle: Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed the strikes targeted "military industry and decision-making centers" but gave no drone count. It's the third mass drone wave this month, up from 300+ in April, per Oryx open-source data. Moscow claims these deplete Ukraine's Patriot missiles, which cost $4 million each vs. $20,000 Shaheds. 8/ Zelenskyy's full statement from 6 a.m. Thursday: "Russia launched the largest drone attack. More than 670 over 30 hours, plus 56 missiles. Our warriors shot down 96%." He urged G7 leaders ahead of their June summit to supply long-range weapons for strikes into Russia. U.S. State Department called the attack "indiscriminate," promising more aid. 9/ What's next? Ukraine expects nightly drone threats to continue; air raid alerts sounded again Thursday night in Odesa. EU foreign ministers meet May 20 to discuss $50 billion in loans for defense. No immediate Russian ground push confirmed, but ISW tracks 2 km advances near Pokrovsk.
