Russia fired more than 3,170 strike drones, over 1,300 guided glide bombs, and 74 missiles at Ukraine over the past seven days. Most of them were ballistic missiles, the type Ukrainian air defense struggles most to intercept, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The single largest concentration came on 13–14 May, when Russia fired more than 1,560 drones and 56 missiles in a two-day window in the largest combined aerial assault on Ukraine since the start of the war. A Kh-101 cruise missile manufactured this quarter destroyed a Kyiv apartment building, killing 24 people, including three children.
More than 3,000 drones and hundreds of missiles: Russia shifts to large-scale aerial exhaustion tactics
According to Zelenskyy, over the past seven days, the Russian army launched:
- more than 3,170 attack drones;
- over 1,300 guided aerial bombs (KABs);
- 74 missiles of various types, most of them ballistic.
The president stressed that residential buildings and civilian infrastructure remain the main targets of the attacks.
In effect, Russia is continuing a strategy of aerial terror aimed at exhausting Ukraine’s air defense systems and maintaining constant psychological pressure on the population.
52 killed and dozens of children among the victims
As a result of Russian strikes during the week, 52 people were killed.
Another 346 people were injured, including 22 children.
“Unfortunately, 52 people were killed by attacks over the course of the week. My condolences to their families and loved ones,” Zelenskyy said.
Against this backdrop, Ukraine continues urging its partners to accelerate deliveries of air defense systems and anti-ballistic missiles.
Europe preparing for new missile threat
The Ukrainian president emphasized that the Russian missile threat now extends beyond Ukraine’s security alone.
According to him, Europe should create a joint ballistic missile defense system and expand production of anti-ballistic weapons.
“We must become self-sufficient in defense so that Russian aerial terror cannot threaten either Ukraine or any other country on the continent,” Zelenskyy stated.
The president also thanked international partners for supporting Ukraine’s air defense and highlighted the importance of the PURL mechanism and additional funding for anti-ballistic missiles.
