Night Attack by Russian Drones: Ukraine Under Enemy Fire Again, Three Regions Affected
On the night of May 2, Ukrainian landscapes once again plunged into alarm — Russian forces carried out a large-scale drone strike, deploying over 150 drones of various types. This is one of the largest attacks in recent times in terms of number, and it once again demonstrated the high level of danger and complexity of countering such threats faced by Ukrainian defenders. According to official information released by the Ukrainian Air Forces on social media, during the night campaign, the enemy used 150 drones, including attack Shaheds and drone imitators of other models. The attack began around 21:30 and lasted several hours, impacting territories bordering Russia as well as temporarily occupied Crimea. Specifically, drones were launched from the regions of Bryansk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, as well as from the Chavda Peninsula, attempting to damage Ukrainian infrastructure and military-important facilities. Data received by 8:00 AM indicates that Ukrainian forces successfully shot down 64 of the 150 launched attack drones, including Shaheds and other models. Throughout the night, Ukrainian air defense detected and intercepted most of the targeted drones, while 62 drone imitators were destroyed or disrupted without causing harm to civilians or critical infrastructure. Nevertheless, the attack resulted in some consequences. Several regions suffered the most — notably Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia. The situation in the Zaporizhzhia region is especially tense: as of the morning, according to official data from the Zaporizhzhia Regional Military Administration, the number of injured due to the massive missile and drone strike reached 29 persons. This is yet another manifestation of Russian aggression against Ukraine’s infrastructure in recent weeks, confirming a trend of increased use of kamikaze drones for destruction and destabilization of the region. Ukrainian defenders actively countered the attack — combat aircraft, anti-aircraft missile systems, electronic warfare tools, and mobile strike groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces did everything possible to reduce the effectiveness of the attack and mitigate its aftermath. At the same time, reports are emerging about the destruction of infrastructure facilities, including railway facilities and an important locomotive repair plant in Zaporizhzhia, which was targeted in the night attack on May 2 by Russian forces. This is confirmed by Ukrzaliznytsia, which reported a targeted attack causing damage to the enterprise. The situation in the region remains tense, and Ukrainian special services and military officials are expressing concern over the increasing number of drone attacks. Particular attention is being paid to improving air defense systems and electronic counter-drone measures to better oppose this type of weapon, which has been part of Russia’s arsenal for some time but has seen increased use recently. This night attack once again vividly reminds us of the high level of danger Ukraine continues to face in maintaining its security and stability. At the same time, Ukrainian defenders demonstrate unwavering resilience and a high level of organization in resisting Russian aggression, doing everything possible to protect their communities and territories from new threats and challenges.