On the night of May 31, the Ukrainian sky experienced another wave of enemy attacks, including strikes utilizing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and cruise missiles, once again confirming a significant escalation of the situation at the front
According to official data from the Ukrainian Air Force, during this night period, a substantial enemy drone fleet was shot down and neutralized, and several high-precision missiles were destroyed. Overall, the Russian invaders attempted to deliver strikes using 109 UAVs and five missiles of various types. Ukrainian defenders responded effectively to these attacks, mostly shooting down or suppressing enemy means of destruction. According to the Air Force, 69 UAVs and three aviation missiles were destroyed during the night. More specifically, amidst this growing sea of threats, the following occurred: the enemy employed 107 strike UAVs, two jet strike UAVs of unknown type, two surface-to-air guided missiles from the S-300 system, and three high-precision aviation missiles of the X-59/69 models. It is important to note that during this attack, Ukrainian military personnel successfully neutralized 69 enemy UAVs operating across different directions: in the east, south, north, and central regions of the country. Of these, 39 UAVs were shot down using active air defense systems, while the remaining 30 were locationally suppressed or destroyed by electronic warfare means. Regarding missile weaponry, three guided aviation missiles of the X-59/69 type were also neutralized. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to clarify whether these missiles were shot down in the air or locationally suppressed—this makes precise analysis of enemy losses more difficult. The primary directions of these attacks were Kharkiv, Sumy, and Donetsk regions, once again confirming that Russian forces continue to attempt increasingly active control over key regions, striking residential areas, infrastructure, and defensive units. Overall, in 13 cases, direct hits by enemy air attack means on targets were recorded, indicating a high level of planning and preparedness by the Russian side. This nighttime attack once again highlights the urgent need to strengthen the defense of Ukrainian borders and the importance of continuing cooperation with the international community to enhance air defense systems. At the same time, Ukrainian military forces declare their readiness to continue repelling the enemy, utilizing all available means to protect their citizens and reduce the scale of destruction.