On the night of May 6, Russia launched a massive combined attack on Ukraine using 108 attack drones and various types of missiles. According to an official report from the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy employed an exhaustion tactic by combining ballistic missiles with a wide range of unmanned aerial systems.
The Russian forces deployed two Iskander-M ballistic missiles from the Rostov region, one Kh-31 guided air missile from the Kursk region, and 108 drones. The drone mix included standard Shaheds as well as bait targets such as “Gerbera,” “Italmas,” and “Parodia.” These systems were launched from multiple directions, including the Bryansk and Kursk regions, as well as temporarily occupied areas in Donetsk and Crimea.
Ukrainian air defense units managed to neutralize 89 of the attacking drones. Despite the high interception rate, several ballistic missiles and nine drones managed to strike eight separate locations. The use of decoy drones, specifically designed to saturate radar systems and distract air defense operators, highlights the evolving nature of aerial threats facing the nation.
The intensity of this strike suggests a deliberate attempt by the Kremlin to target deep-rear infrastructure and erode the defensive capacity of the Ukrainian military. The combination of ballistic threats and persistent drone incursions remains a primary concern for the General Staff. As the conflict progresses, Ukraine’s ability to defend its airspace relies heavily on the integration of electronic warfare (EW) systems and mobile fire units, which continue to prove their effectiveness in neutralizing low-altitude threats.
Despite the persistent air raids and occasional damage on the ground, the Ukrainian defense remains resilient. The Air Force noted that air defense operations continued well into the morning hours, with several targets still tracked in the airspace. This ongoing aerial campaign is part of a broader, brutal strategy aimed at destabilizing Ukrainian society. However, the successful interception of the vast majority of these projectiles underscores the professionalism of the Air Force and the critical importance of continued international support to replenish interceptor stocks and enhance detection capabilities.