Ukrainian air defense destroys 36 drones in Russia’s night attack

Russia launched 36 Iranian-made kamikaze drones over Ukraine on Thursday, May 25. All of them were destroyed by Ukrainian air defense.

Rubryka reports, citing the press service of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and Air Force Commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk.

"One hundred percent result! 36 out of 36. Thank you for the combat work, the West, Center, and South Air Commands. Great job! This may be the best gift!" Oleshchuk stated.

On the night of May 25, 2023, the Russian forces attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 attack drones, launching 36 barrage munitions from the northern and southern directions.

The Russian army likely targeted critical infrastructure and military facilities in the country's western regions, the press service of the Ukrainian Armed Forces says.

The Air Force reported that joint efforts by different divisions of the Ukrainian armed forces destroyed the air threats. Anti-aircraft missile forces, fighter jets, and mobile fire groups of the South Air Command, the Center Air Command, the West Air Command, and the air defense of other divisions repelled the attack. 

It's the tenth Russian kamikaze drone attack on Ukraine in May. This night, the air raid alert lasted for more than 3 hours. Residents of Kyiv, Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and other regions reported explosions. The Russian army also struck a residential building in the Marhanets community of the Dnipropetrovsk region with a kamikaze drone. The building was damaged, but no one was injured.

Tonight, Ukrainian defenders shot down four kamikaze drones over the southern Mykolaiv region and Odesa region, according to the South Operational Command. Air defense also destroyed all Russian air targets moving toward Kyiv: the Russian occupiers attacked in waves. Lviv authorities reported that the West air command downed ten kamikaze drones in the western region.