Ukraine Attacks Russia with Nearly 600 Drones in a Single Day, an Unprecedented Scale
(CNA Kyiv, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Russian authorities stated today that nearly 600 Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight, resulting in four deaths.
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- 📰 Published: May 18, 2026 at 08:06
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(CNA Kyiv, 17th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) Russian authorities stated today that nearly 600 Ukrainian drones attacked Russia overnight, resulting in four deaths. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as a "completely justifiable" retaliation for Moscow's bombing of Ukraine.
According to Agence France-Presse, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that a total of 556 drones were shot down across the country during the night, with another 30 intercepted after dawn. This is one of the largest Ukrainian drone offensives during the ongoing conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv's offensive was "completely justifiable." A few days prior, Russian drone and missile bombardments on the Ukrainian capital resulted in at least 24 fatalities.
He said, "Our response to Russia's prolongation of the war and its attacks on our cities and communities is completely justifiable. This time, Ukraine's long-range sanctions have extended to the Moscow region. We want to make it clear to the Russians: their country must end this war."
An AFP journalist was granted rare access to an undisclosed location last night to witness Ukrainian forces launching long-range drones. This operation was one of the largest since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
After the unit members prepared the aircraft-like drones, they roared towards Russia, leaving trails of light and flames.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stated that since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow and its surrounding areas have "encountered the largest attack to date."
In a recent exclusive interview with AFP, the commander of the Ukrainian drone forces, Robert Brovdi, said that Ukraine's top priority "remains to continue to enhance the use of long-range strike capabilities as comprehensively as possible to attack a wide range of military targets." (Translation: Ho Hung-ju) 1150518
According to Agence France-Presse, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that a total of 556 drones were shot down across the country during the night, with another 30 intercepted after dawn. This is one of the largest Ukrainian drone offensives during the ongoing conflict.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Kyiv's offensive was "completely justifiable." A few days prior, Russian drone and missile bombardments on the Ukrainian capital resulted in at least 24 fatalities.
He said, "Our response to Russia's prolongation of the war and its attacks on our cities and communities is completely justifiable. This time, Ukraine's long-range sanctions have extended to the Moscow region. We want to make it clear to the Russians: their country must end this war."
An AFP journalist was granted rare access to an undisclosed location last night to witness Ukrainian forces launching long-range drones. This operation was one of the largest since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
After the unit members prepared the aircraft-like drones, they roared towards Russia, leaving trails of light and flames.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence stated that since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Moscow and its surrounding areas have "encountered the largest attack to date."
In a recent exclusive interview with AFP, the commander of the Ukrainian drone forces, Robert Brovdi, said that Ukraine's top priority "remains to continue to enhance the use of long-range strike capabilities as comprehensively as possible to attack a wide range of military targets." (Translation: Ho Hung-ju) 1150518