In the early hours of 26 May, Ukraine faced one of its most aggressive aerial assaults in recent weeks. The Russian dictator launched a coordinated overnight attack consisting of nine Kh-101 air-launched cruise missiles and a staggering 355 Iranian-made Shahed drones and similar UAVs against Ukrainian territory. But thanks to Ukraine’s robust and determined air defence forces, every single missile was successfully intercepted, and 288 out of the 355 drones were neutralised.
The missiles were fired from Tu-95MS strategic bombers based in Russia’s Saratov region. The drone swarm originated from several Russian and occupied Crimean areas, including Bryansk, Millerovo, Kursk, Orel, Shatalovo, Primorsko Akhtarsk and Chauda in Crimea.
Ukraine’s defence relied on a coordinated response from aviation units, anti-aircraft missile systems, mobile fire groups and electronic warfare teams. According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 233 drones were shot down using firepower, while 55 were suppressed or lost via electronic warfare.
Despite the success in intercepting the bulk of the attack, some strikes did result in damage. The Ukrainian military confirmed that enemy weapons hit five locations and that debris from downed drones landed in ten areas. Kyiv, the capital, has been under near-continuous drone attacks, marking its third night in a row of bombardment. One district in Kyiv has reported damage as a result.
The sustained pressure from the Kremlin’s terror campaign shows no signs of easing. Still, Ukraine’s defences continue to demonstrate resilience, precision and unmatched determination to protect its skies and civilians. In financial terms, the cost of Russia’s failed overnight missile barrage is estimated at tens of millions of pounds. The Kh-101 cruise missiles alone cost approximately £10.5 million (roughly 500 million UAH or 13 million USD) for nine units, while each Shahed drone is valued at around £15,000 (approximately 700,000 UAH or 19,000 USD), putting the failed operation’s total cost at more than £16 million (approximately 762 million UAH or 20 million USD).
