Russia Hits Ukraine with 546 Drones and Missiles; Belarus-Russia Begin Nuclear Drills
Russian forces conducted the largest single overnight strike on Ukraine in more than a month, launching 546 drones and missiles on the night of 17-18 May, the Institute for the Study of War confirms. The package included 14 Iskander-M ballistic missiles and S-400 air defence missiles repurposed for surface strike, 8 Iskander-K cruise missiles, and 524 Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and Parodiya drones. Ukrainian air defences downed 4 cruise missiles and 503 drones; 18 missiles and 16 drones struck 34 locations across Dnipropetrovsk, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kirovohrad, Kherson and Odesa oblasts. A Chinese-owned ship approaching the port of Odesa was hit. Russia and Belarus simultaneously began joint nuclear-weapon exercises on 18 May.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the strikes “significantly damaged civilian infrastructure” and also targeted energy and residential infrastructure; at least 33 civilians were injured, including three children. Russia has been launching larger volumes of ballistic missiles in recent weeks to exploit Ukrainian air defence limits given a global shortage of Patriot interceptors. The Belarusian Ministry of Defence said its forces are practising delivering nuclear munitions and preparing for combat use in coordination with Russian forces — the strongest single Russian nuclear-signalling event of the year. Separately, 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 and a range of tens of kilometres — mirroring Russia’s glide-bomb capability.