Ukrainian forces launched long-range drone strikes overnight targeting a Russian navy arsenal and base in the Kronstadt area near St. Petersburg, as well as an oil depot in the Krasnodar region, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday.
Writing on X, Zelenskyy said drones traveled approximately 1,000 kilometers to reach the St. Petersburg region and about 500 kilometers into the Krasnodar region. He credited the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine for the joint operation.
“It is time to end this war. But Russia’s ruler wants to keep fighting,” Zelenskyy wrote. “Russia must end its war and stop its attacks on life. Any manifestation of injustice against Ukraine will receive a just response.”
Separately, Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence reported that air defenses intercepted nearly 92% of all drone and missile attacks in May — even as Russia stepped up its aerial assault.
According to the ministry, Russian forces launched 8,351 aerial attack assets during large-scale strikes last month, up from approximately 6,700 in April. Of those, 7,588 drones and missiles were intercepted. The overall interception rate for all aerial targets reached 90.75%.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 7,476 of 8,150 drone launches — an interception rate of 91.73% — while intercepting 112 of 211 cruise and ballistic missiles, a rate exceeding 53%, the ministry said.
Russia’s biggest strike of the month hit overnight on May 13 — 1,567 drones and 56 missiles launched in a wave that ran for more than 30 hours straight. Ukrainian defenders shot down 93% of the drones and 72% of the missiles before it was over, the ministry said.
Eleven days later, Russia hit again — this time throwing 600 UAVs, more than 50 cruise missiles, 30 conventional ballistic missiles, Kinzhal and Tsirkon missiles, and two Oreshnik intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Ukraine in a single night. Defenders still knocked down 91% of the drones and more than half of the missiles, the ministry said.
Ukraine is pressing its partners for more PAC-3 missiles for its Patriot batteries, warning the shortfall leaves it exposed to ballistic attack. The ministry said the issue is expected to be raised at the Defense Contact Group’s next meeting in June — the gathering known as the Ramstein format.
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