Russia Launches Massive Daytime Drone Assault on Ukraine

On 13 May 2026, Russian forces unleashed a coordinated daytime drone offensive against Ukraine, deploying more than 800 unmanned aerial vehicles. The strikes hit Kyiv’s critical infrastructure and multiple regions—including Dnipropetrovsk, Kryvyi Rih, Mykolaiv, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Chernihiv, Dnipro and Kherson. Ukrainian monitors recorded eight salvoes, some entering from Belarus. The assault followed the expiration of a three-day ceasefire and coincided with ongoing long-range attacks by both sides.

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The ceasefire, which ended on Monday, had raised hopes of a temporary lull in hostilities. In recent weeks, Ukraine’s domestically developed drone technology enabled long-range attacks on Russian energy and manufacturing sites, while Russia’s spring offensive began to lose momentum, recording a net loss of territory for the first time since 2024, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Ukraine), President Vladimir Putin (Russia), former presidential aide Andriy Yermak (Ukraine), President Donald Trump (United States), Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán, Slovakian authorities, and the Institute for the Study of War are central to the narrative.

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• >= 800 Russian drones launched; Ukrainian officials also reported > 200 drones overnight.

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• At least six civilians killed in Dnipropetrovsk region; two dead and four injured in Kryvyi Rih, including a nine-month-old with a severed leg.

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• Damage to energy facilities, an apartment block, a kindergarten, a civilian locomotive, and power outages in Mykolaiv.

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• Russia’s defence ministry claimed destruction of 286 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, Crimea, the Azov Sea and the Black Sea.

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• Fourteen Ukrainian regions were attacked on Tuesday; three regions reported strikes on Wednesday.

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In Kryvyi Rih, a drone struck an apartment building, killing a couple and injuring their infant granddaughter. An aerial bomb north of the city killed four civilians. In Kyiv’s Obolon district, drone debris ignited a fire on a 16-storey residential building. Additional injuries occurred in Cherkasy, Dnipro, Kherson and other locales.

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Ukrainian authorities described the attacks as targeting critical infrastructure and affirmed that Ukraine would sustain its high-level long-range strike capability. Zelenskyy highlighted cooperation with European partners on missile-defence technologies, noting participation by 13 countries and NATO representatives. Hungarian Foreign Minister Anita Orbán condemned strikes on ethnic-Hungarian areas in western Ukraine and pledged discussion at Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s inaugural cabinet meeting. Slovakia announced the temporary closure of its border crossings with Ukraine for security reasons. Russia’s defence ministry reported intercepting and destroying 286 Ukrainian drones across multiple theaters.

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Hungary’s condemnation and Slovakia’s border closure illustrate regional opposition to Russia’s targeting of civilian and ethnic-Hungarian sites. The attacks have been framed as violations of ceasefire expectations and civilian-protection norms.

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Sources differ on the scale of the drone deployment: Ukrainian monitors cite “more than 800” drones, while other reports reference “more than 200” drones overnight. Russia’s claim of destroying 286 Ukrainian drones contrasts with Ukrainian statements that the drones were launched against Russian targets, creating a discrepancy in attribution.

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• “Since midnight, at least 800 Russian drones have already been launched, and the attack is ongoing, with additional drones entering our country’s airspace.” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

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• “The end of the war in Ukraine I really think is getting very close,” — Donald Trump, President of the United States

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• “After the end of the partial three-day ceasefire, Russia continues to kill and maim Ukrainians and pressure on it must therefore in no way be weakened,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

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• “I do not have any house, I only have one flat and one car,” — Andriy Yermak, former head of the Ukrainian presidential office

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• “Not only are Ukrainian defensive lines holding, but Ukrainian forces have managed to contest the tactical initiative in several areas of the front line even as Russia continues to lose disproportionate amounts of manpower to achieve minimal gains,” — Institute for the Study of War

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• “Overall, Ukraine’s current position on the frontline, in our long-range [strikes] and in our joint results with our partners are at their highest level in years. We must maintain this level and continue to achieve results,” — Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

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The assault underscores the fragility of ceasefire arrangements and highlights Ukraine’s growing drone capabilities, which have altered the tactical balance. Russia’s slowed advance and reported manpower losses suggest a shift toward a more contested front line, while civilian casualties risk further international condemnation.

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Ukraine will continue diplomatic engagements on missile-defence cooperation with European allies, and regional authorities are monitoring security implications, including potential extensions of border closures and additional humanitarian assessments.

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