Massive Russian attack: Air defenses down 55 missiles and 549 Russian drones

Air defense forces intercepted 55 missiles and 549 Russian drones used by the Russian military to attack Ukraine beginning on the evening of May 23, with Kyiv being the main target. A total of 16 missiles and 51 attack drones were recorded as having struck 54 locations. 

The Ukrainian Air Force reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

“On the night of May 24 (starting at 6:00 p.m. on May 23), the enemy launched a massive combined strike against Ukraine using attack UAVs and air-, sea-, and land-based missiles. The main target of the strike was Kyiv,” the statement reads.

In total, the Air Force’s electronic warfare units detected 690 air attack weapons—90 missiles and 600 UAVs of various types:

• one medium-range ballistic missile (launch site—Kapustin Yar, Astrakhan Oblast, Russian Federation);
• two Kh-47M2 “Kinzhal” aeroballistic missiles (launch area – Lipetsk Oblast, Russian Federation);
• three 3M22 “Zircon” anti-ship missiles (launch areas – temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Kursk Oblast, Russian Federation);
• 30 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles (launch areas – Bryansk, Kursk, the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea);
• 54 X-101/Iskander-K/Kalibr cruise missiles (launch areas – Vologda and Kursk regions, Russian Federation; Black Sea waters);
• 600 Shahed, “Gerbera,” and “Italmas” strike UAVs, “Banderol” loitering munitions, and “Parody” decoy drones (from the following directions: Bryansk, Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk – Russian Federation; Gvardeyskoye, Chauda, Temporary Occupied Territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea).

The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare and unmanned systems units, and mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.

According to preliminary data, as of 09:30, air defense forces had shot down or neutralized 604 targets—55 missiles and 549 unmanned aerial vehicles of various types:

• 11 Iskander-M/S-400 ballistic missiles;
• 44 X-101/Iskander-K/“Kalibr” cruise missiles;
• 549 enemy UAVs of various types.

“In addition, 19 enemy missiles likely did not reach their targets; information is being verified, and possible impact sites are being identified,” the Air Force noted.

Read also: Russian attacks in Donetsk region kill two people and wound six over past 24 hours

According to preliminary information as of 09:30, 16 missiles and 51 attack UAVs were recorded hitting 54 locations, as well as the downed (wreckage) UAVs falling at 23 locations.

The Air Force reminded the public that several attack UAVs remain in Ukrainian airspace and urged people not to ignore the air raid alert.

As reported by Ukrinform, on the night of May 24, during a massive air attack by Russian forces, strikes and falling debris occurred in various districts of Kyiv, causing fires to break out. Two people were killed and 56 were injured.