Russian forces strike 164 areas following massive Ukrainian drone attack

On the night of May 16–17, Russian air defense systems repelled one of the largest Ukrainian drone attacks: from the evening of May 16 until 7:00 a.m. on May 17, 556 Ukrainian drones were shot down.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Russian forces struck 164 areas in response.

Ukrainian drones were intercepted and destroyed over the Belgorod, Kursk, Oryol, Voronezh, Tver, Rostov, and Lipetsk regions, Krasnodar Krai, Crimea, and other regions of Russia.

Moscow Region Governor Andrei Vorobyov reported casualties and injuries as a result of the attack on the region. In Khimki, a drone struck a private home, killing a woman, with one more person trapped under rubble. Two more people were killed in Mytishchi.

According to Russia’s Ministry of Defense, Russian forces struck Ukrainian drone assembly sites as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian military personnel and foreign mercenaries in 164 areas. Following the overnight attack, explosions at Ukrainian Armed Forces facilities began to be recorded across Ukraine — in the Odessa, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Kyiv regions.

Military expert and retired Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin commented on the situation in a conversation with aif.ru and assessed the further actions of both sides.

“Russian forces are identifying Ukrainian Armed Forces targets and striking them regularly. The response is also happening on the ground — we are gradually advancing in the combat zone. The summer will be hot, and so will the May days. The liberation of Krasny Liman, Kostiantynivka, and many other settlements is currently underway. Strikes will be continuously carried out against Ukrainian logistics, transport systems, and bridges. The coming day will likely show us what is what,” the military expert explained.

Dandykin also named several reasons why, in his view, the Ukrainian side launched the massive attack at this particular moment.

“This is a reaction not only from Zelensky but also from those who stand behind him. A signal that they have no intention of negotiating peace. There were quite a lot of drones, and Sevastopol was repelling attacks overnight. The Kyiv regime is thus attempting to supposedly take revenge on Russia. In addition, this strike may be a kind of message to China. Russian leader Vladimir Putin will soon travel on an official visit to China. China recently asked Kyiv to repay a debt they had not settled. Ukraine was rude to them, and now it is taking revenge on us as well,” he noted.