[58947] Large-scale Russian aerial attack on Ukraine: hundreds of UAVs and fear of missile launches

Unprecedented attack: Russia deploys hundreds of UAVs and prepares for strategic bombardment

Throughout the day, May 13, 2026, Ukraine experienced one of the most massive aerial attacks since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. According to reports on the Реальна Війна channel, which is identified with firm pro-Ukrainian positions, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy updated that since the start of the day, Russia has launched at least 800 'Shahed' UAVs, with waves of attacks continuing non-stop.

The mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, Ruslan Martsinkiv, described the attack as "probably the most massive attack on the western regions" of Ukraine since the beginning of the war. Monitoring channels reported over 200 UAVs simultaneously in Ukrainian airspace, moving toward the west of the country, where cloudy weather conditions make them difficult to intercept.

Official sources and advisors in the Ministry of Defense, including the advisor to the minister known as "Flash," warned that the attack is expected to continue until tomorrow afternoon. According to reports, the campaign is planned in stages: following the UAV waves, Ukrainian security officials expect that Russia will deploy its strategic aviation (Tu-95ms/Tu-160 bombers) to carry out barrages of guided missiles, alongside the use of ballistic and cruise missiles.

Ukrainian intelligence analysis suggests that this is a well-planned move. According to the UA Stream channel, the attacks are focused on areas near NATO borders, indicating a broader Russian strategy. Simultaneously, security authorities in Ukraine are calling on citizens not to take air raid alerts lightly and to remain in protected spaces throughout the next 24 hours.