Russia massively attacked Ukraine tonight

On May 16, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with missiles and UAVs. Enemy aerial targets were recorded in the Kyiv and Mykolaiv regions. There are casualties and destruction in Kyiv.

At around 03:30 a.m. Kyiv time, Russian invaders attacked Ukraine from the north, south, and east directions with 18 missiles of various types. In particular, 6 Kh-47M2 “Kinzhal” aeroballistic missiles were launched from 6 Russian MiG-31K aircraft, 9 “Kalibr” cruise missiles were fired from enemy ships in the Black Sea, and 3 more missiles were launched from ground-based systems (S-400, “Iskander-M”). Ukrainian air defense forces shot down all 18 enemy missiles.

As was reported earlier, Ukrainian defenders shot down a Russian air ballistic missile “Kinzhal” with the Patriot missile defense system on May 4. According to Yurii Ihnat, Spokesman Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “this was the first target as an air ballistic missile for Patriot”.

In addition, during the night’s air attack, Russian forces attacked Ukraine with Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones and conducted aerial reconnaissance with 3 UAVs, including “Orlan-10” and “Supercam”. Ukrainian defenders successfully destroyed all enemy aerial targets.

On May 16, Russia carried out the eighth aerial attack on Kyiv since the beginning of this month. This time, the enemy launched a massive air attack from different directions simultaneously, using UAVs and missiles. It was exceptional in terms of its intensity, with the maximum number of missiles within the shortest period of time. The majority of enemy targets in the airspace of Kyiv were detected and destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

At the same time, falling debris was recorded in the Solomianskyi, Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Obolonskyi, and Darnytskyi districts of the capital. The most significant damage occurred in the Solomianskyi district, where a non-residential building caught fire, and several vehicles were damaged. The fire has been extinguished. Three people were injured. In other city districts, the damage is minor, primarily involving debris falling onto parked cars, adjoining territories, or forest park zones, reported Serhii Popko, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

During the night’s Russian air attack, fragments of the downed missile also fell into the territory of the Kyiv Zoo. No animals or employees were injured. Missile debris damaged local green space, but all broken branches have already been cleared, stated Vitalii Klychko, the Mayor of Kyiv.

Later that same night, a second air alarm was declared in Kyiv and the region, as the enemy drone was detected in the airspace.

The U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, reacted to the night’s Russian air attack on Kyiv on her Twitter page. “Grateful for the powerful work of Ukrainian air defenders,” she commented.

Moreover, at night on May 16, Ukrainian air defense forces of the Operational Command “South” successfully shot down 4 Russian sea-based cruise missiles “Kalibr”. Russian invaders launched aerial targets from the Black Sea towards the Mykolaiv region. There were no casualties among local residents, informed Vitalii Kim, Head of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration.