On the night of May 18-19, Ukrainian air defense forces once again distinguished themselves in their fight against Russian drones attempting to cause damage to civilian cities and infrastructure facilities
According to the Ukrainian Air Force command, the Russian occupiers launched a large-scale attack involving several dozen unmanned aerial vehicles, including 112 strike UAVs of the Shahed type and other mimics of various models, which were confirmed by data as of the morning of May 19. The command reported that Ukrainian air defense systems responded swiftly and accurately, neutralizing 76 hostile aerial targets. Specifically, 41 drones were successfully intercepted with weapons deployed for such purposes, while 35 UAVs were lost directly due to the effectiveness of electronic warfare systems, which jammed control signals and compromised the drones' operation. This massive destruction was made possible through the coordinated work of several components of Ukraine’s defense system: aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, modern drone platforms, and mobile firegroups of Ukrainian forces. Together, they managed to shoot down and cover almost all targets in the sky, maintaining safe control of the situation. Spokespersons reported that the attack primarily took place in the eastern, northern, and central regions of the country. Fortunately, civilian casualties and damage to critical infrastructure were minimized. However, regions including Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Cherkasy, and Kirovohrad suffered. The strike resulted in the destruction of infrastructure objects and damage to private and government buildings. Ukrainian defense forces acted as quickly and efficiently as possible to localize the consequences of the attack and prevent even greater-scale destruction. Ukraine continues to strengthen its air defense, using this experience to improve system capabilities and respond swiftly to similar provocations. Military experts indicate that this is yet another proof that Ukrainian defense forces are capable of countering modern methods and tools of air warfare, while also ensuring civilian safety even under the most challenging conditions. The Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces' command reiterate that each drone launch forces them to mobilize more quickly and act more effectively to protect the country from Russian aggression.