Russia Hits Ukraine with 546 Drones, Missiles; Belarus-Russia Begin Nuclear Drills
The Institute for the Study of War confirms that Russian forces launched 546 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight on 17-18 May, including 14 ballistic missiles and 8 cruise missiles, with 18 missiles and 16 drones striking 34 locations primarily across Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Kherson and Odesa oblasts. A Chinese-owned ship approaching the port of Odesa was hit. At least 33 civilians were injured, including three children. Russia and Belarus simultaneously began joint nuclear-weapon exercises on 18 May — the most explicit Russian nuclear-signalling event of the year.
The Belarusian Ministry of Defence said its forces are practising delivering nuclear munitions and preparing for combat use in coordination with Russian forces. Russia is now launching larger volumes of ballistic missiles to exploit Ukrainian air defence limits, given a global shortage of Patriot interceptors. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SZRU) has obtained Russian documents showing one Russian oil company alone has closed 400 active wells, refining has fallen 10% in 2026, 11 Russian financial institutions are preparing to liquidate, and Russia’s federal budget deficit is already almost $80 billion in the first five months of the year. Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced the first domestically-produced KAB-style guided glide bomb is ready for combat use, with a 250kg payload.