Overnight, Ukrainian air defenses shot down more than 130 Russian drones
On the night of May 15, Russia once again launched a massive attack on Ukraine using drones and missiles. The south, north, and east of the country came under fire. This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.
According to the military, the attack began in the evening of May 14—around 6:00 p.m. The Russian army launched five Kh-31P anti-radar missiles from the Black Sea region, one Kh-35 anti-ship missile from the temporarily occupied Crimea, as well as 141 drones of various types.
Among them were Shahed, Gerbera, and Italmas strike drones, as well as Parodia decoy drones. The drones were launched from Russian territory—from the Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk regions. Launches were also carried out from the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk Oblast and Crimea.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, mobile fire groups, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units, and drone operators. According to preliminary data as of 09:00, Ukrainian air defense forces shot down or neutralized 130 Russian drones and one Kh-35 missile.
The Air Force also reported that all five X-31P anti-radar missiles failed to reach their targets. “According to preliminary data, as of 09:00, air defense forces shot down or neutralized 1 X-35 anti-ship missile and 130 enemy UAVs,” the military reported.
However, it was not possible to completely avoid the consequences of the attack. According to the Air Force, seven strike drones were recorded hitting six different locations. Debris from downed aerial targets fell in seven other locations.
The attack is still ongoing. Several Russian drones remained in the sky, so the military urged people not to ignore air raid sirens and to follow safety guidelines.
As of May 15, 2026, 257 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines. Ukrainian defense forces continue to repel the Russian occupiers’ offensive, inflicting significant losses on the enemy.
Over the past 24 hours, Ukrainian defenders have repelled a large-scale offensive by Russian occupiers, recording a total of 158 combat engagements across the entire front line.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine also thwarted a Russian offensive planned for March.
