Ukraine's air force command announced today that Russia attacked the country with 14 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-400 anti-aircraft missiles modified for ground strikes, eight Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 524 suicide and decoy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Air defense units shot down and jammed four Iskander-K cruise missiles and 503 various UAVs. Attacks from 18 missiles and 16 UAVs were recorded at 34 locations, with debris from downed aircraft falling in 11 areas. The attack is ongoing, and some UAVs remain airborne, the agency stated.
This information means Ukrainian forces failed to intercept any of the 14 Iskander-M and S-400 missiles fired by Russia.
AMK Mapping, an X account specializing in open-source intelligence on the conflict, assessed that the main targets of the attack were defense industry facilities in Dnipro city, Dnipropetrovsk province. Among these, the Pivdenmash Southern Machine-Building Plant was targeted by numerous Iskander-M and Iskander-K missiles. Pivdenmash specializes in producing rocket boosters, ballistic missiles, and liquid fuel for Ukrainian missiles. It was also the facility hit by an Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile in 11/2024.
"26 people were injured. The enemy attacked six districts in this region with missiles, UAVs, artillery shells, and bombs," said Oleksandr Ganzha, governor of Dnipropetrovsk province, referring to the damage in Dnipro city.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russia's attack on Dnipro city and Dnipropetrovsk province lasted over six hours. "The missile strike damaged a residential building, and other civilian infrastructure was also heavily attacked. The strike also targeted energy facilities and civilian buildings across the region," he wrote on social media.
Russia's Defense Ministry has not commented on the information.
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A damaged building in Dnipro city after Russia's attack on 18/5. Photo: SES |
Russia and Ukraine have regularly targeted each other with missiles or UAVs since the conflict began. Russia's Defense Ministry announced on 17/5 that its forces shot down 1,054 suicide UAVs, eight guided bombs, one Flamingo cruise missile, and one Neptune-MD anti-ship missile from Ukraine within 24 hours. This was Ukraine's largest UAV attack during the conflict.
Colonel Yuri Ignat, press secretary for Ukraine's air force command, stated on 5/5 that Russia is continuously applying pressure with day and night attacks. He believes this activity aims to exhaust Ukraine's air defense network, pressure military personnel, and deplete ammunition reserves.
Pham Giang (According to AFP, Ukrainska Pravda)
