On the morning of May 25, at 09:00, Ukraine’s Air Force provided a comprehensive report detailing their defense against what constituted one of the most extensive and complex combined missile and drone assaults launched by the aggressor. This widespread aerial attack involved a staggering total of 367 various aerial weapons aimed at Ukrainian territory, posing a significant challenge to the nation's air defense capabilities.
The defensive operations faced a diverse array of threats. The aggressor deployed nine ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M type, along with 55 cruise missiles, including Kh-101 and Kalibr variants. Additionally, a single Kh-22 cruise missile and four Kh-59/69 guided aviation missiles were launched. The assault also heavily relied on unmanned aerial vehicles, with 298 strike drones, identified as Shahed, Gerbera, or Parody types, forming a major component of the attack.
In a resilient response, Ukrainian defenders achieved notable success against the incoming barrage. Out of the 55 cruise missiles, 45 were effectively shot down. While the remaining ballistic, Kh-22, and some guided aviation missiles were not intercepted by air defense systems, the focus then shifted to neutralizing the vast drone threat. A substantial 139 of the 298 attack drones were directly destroyed by defensive fire. Furthermore, an additional 127 strike or imitation drones, along with two guided aviation missiles of the Kh-59/69 type, were either lost their exact location or were suppressed through advanced electronic warfare measures.
Despite the comprehensive nature of the attack, the Ukrainian forces demonstrated significant effectiveness in mitigating its impact. The report acknowledges that enemy aerial weapons struck 22 locations across Ukraine. Simultaneously, debris from intercepted cruise missiles and downed attack drones fell in 15 different areas. The persistent efforts of the Air Force remain crucial in safeguarding the skies and minimizing potential damage from such intense and multi-layered aerial assaults. For the latest official updates, the public can refer to the Ukrainian Air Force's channels on Telegram t.me/kpszsu and Facebook facebook.com/kpszsu.
