The night of May 30th became a test of endurance for Ukraine's air defense system. The Russian Federation attempted to launch a massive strike on Ukrainian territory, deploying almost its entire arsenal of offensive weapons. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the enemy launched an Iskander-M ballistic missile, six Kh-101 cruise missiles, and an unprecedented number of attack drones—290 units.
Massive Assault from Multiple Directions
The attack unfolded from evening until morning, covering a vast territory. The missile strike was launched from the Bryansk and Vologda regions, while the swarm of drones came from several directions: Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, as well as from the occupied territory of Crimea. The attack utilized not only the familiar "Shaheds" but also more modern jet drones, "Herbers," "Italmases," as well as decoy drones of the "Parody" type, designed to overload air defense systems with false targets.
Effective Work of the Sky Defenders
All available forces participated in repelling the aggression: aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units, and mobile fire groups. The statistics of the air defense's work are impressive: as of 9:00 AM, 284 targets were shot down or suppressed. The defenders' record includes five shot-down Kh-101 cruise missiles and 279 destroyed drones of various types. This means that the interception efficiency exceeded 95% of the total number of launched drones.
Consequences of the Attack
Despite the successful operation of the air defense, it was impossible to completely avoid incidents. Debris falling was recorded at 10 locations, and 9 attack drones still reached their targets at seven objects. Additionally, two missiles (one ballistic and one cruise) did not reach their targets, but their trajectory and place of impact are being clarified. The Ukrainian Air Force continues to warn citizens about the presence of remaining drones in the air and urges them to follow safety rules.
This attack was a continuation of a series of strikes on Ukraine's rear areas. Earlier that same night, a massive swarm of drones attacked the Shostka community in the Sumy region, and in the evening of May 29th, facilities in the Poltava district were hit, where damage and casualties were recorded.