Zelenskyy reported heavy civilian casualties resulting from Russian attacks over the past week

Over the past week, Russian occupation forces have launched more than 3,170 attack drones, over 1,300 guided aerial bombs, and 74 missiles of various types—the vast majority of which were ballistic—at Ukrainian territory. As a result of the enemy shelling, 52 people were killed, and another 346 civilians, including 22 children, sustained injuries of varying severity.

This was reported by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The head of state emphasized the urgent need to significantly strengthen the national air defense system to effectively counter the invaders’ aerial terror. Ukraine needs an increase in the supply of anti-ballistic missiles and additional financial contributions from Western allies to purchase modern weapons. The protection of Ukrainian airspace directly affects the security of the entire continent, so European partners must urgently step up efforts to create a joint defense system against the Kremlin’s ballistic threats.

On May 16, Russian occupation forces carried out massive shelling of the Kherson region, resulting in one death and 15 civilians sustaining injuries of varying severity.

On the night of May 17, Ukraine’s air defense forces shot down and neutralized 279 enemy drones out of 287 launched by Russian military units.

A 25-year-old woman was injured as a result of an enemy drone strike on a gas station in the Zaporizhzhia district.