Russia's Ministry of Defense announced on 17/5 that air defense units shot down 1,054 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), 8 guided bombs, one Flamingo cruise missile, and one Neptune-MD anti-ship missile belonging to Ukraine over the past 24 hours. The Black Sea Fleet also destroyed 6 Ukrainian unmanned boats.

The ministry did not disclose the total number of assets Ukraine deployed. This is considered Ukraine's largest attack on Russia since the conflict erupted in February 2022.

Russian air defense missile explodes Ukrainian UAV during the 17/5 attack. Video: RusVesna.

Russian officials stated that at least 4 civilians were killed: three victims near the capital Moskva and one person in Belgorod province.

Moskva Mayor Sergey Sobyanin added that 12 people were injured in the nighttime attacks, primarily near the entrance to an oil refinery in the city. According to him, the facility "sustained no technical damage".

UAV debris also fell on the grounds of Sheremetyevo Airport in Moskva but caused no damage.

The attack occurred after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on 15/5 that Ukraine would retaliate against Russia, following a fierce attack on the capital Kyiv and other localities that killed 24 people and injured about 50.

Apartment building in Krasnogorsk, Moskva province, damaged after the 17/5 attack. Video: Reuters.

Ukraine's Air Command stated on the same day that Russia attacked Ukraine with 287 various types of UAVs. "Air defense forces shot down 279 UAVs, while 8 aircraft struck 7 locations and debris fell in 7 areas", the agency stated.

According to Ukrainian officials, the attack injured 8 people and damaged several apartment buildings.

The reciprocal attacks occur amid stalled diplomatic efforts to end the conflict, with Kyiv rejecting Moskva's territorial demands. Negotiations stalled significantly after the mediator, the United States, shifted its focus to the Middle East and concentrated on operations against Iran.

Nguyen Tien (According to RIA Novosti, TASS, AFP)