Kyiv, May 18 (HS): The largest drone attack by Russia since the full-scale war began in 2022 resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to at least three others, including a child, in the Kyiv region, according to Ukrainian authorities. The attack occurred shortly after direct talks between Ukraine and Russia and just before a phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Over 273 drones were launched, primarily targeting Kyiv and the eastern regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk. This incident marks Russia’s most significant drone offensive during the conflict, surpassing a previous record of 267 drones launched on the eve of the war’s third anniversary.
Ukrainian air force data indicated that 128 drones were lost during the operation—due to crashes, fuel issues, or as decoys—while 88 were intercepted. Both Russia and Ukraine have increasingly employed decoy drones to confound air defenses, with some equipped with Luneberg lenses to enhance their radar visibility, making them appear as larger threats. Marco Rubio, the US Secretary of State, has suggested the Vatican as a potential site for future peace negotiations.
Decoy drones produced in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Tatarstan, designed to resemble Shaheed-136 drones, are made of plywood and foam. These decoys compel Ukrainian defenders to engage with them, enabling Russian forces to pinpoint air defense locations for future strikes. Russia is significantly ramping up its drone warfare capabilities, manufacturing thousands of both real and decoy drones for use against Ukraine.
The scale of recent attacks, despite limited consequences, conveys a strategic message before an anticipated phone call between Putin and Trump, who has called for an end to hostilities in Ukraine. Recent direct talks between Russia and Ukraine failed to establish a temporary ceasefire, yet ended with an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war from each side. Trump is also set to communicate with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. Over the weekend, air raid warnings echoed across Kyiv and nearby regions, with reports of multiple engagements by air defense units. Ukrainian officials describe the situation as dire, with Russian strikes aimed at intimidation during negotiations. A Russian drone attack on Saturday killed nine civilians in Sumy, which Zelenskyy condemned as a deliberate act, calling for harsher sanctions against Moscow.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
