Ukraine launches massive overnight strikes on Russian military targets

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces carried out a series of overnight strikes on military targets in Russia and Russian-occupied territories, said Commander of the Unmanned Systems Forces Robert Brovdi, known by the call sign “Magyar.”

In a statement published on Facebook, Brovdi said Ukrainian forces launched 55 strikes against 23 military targets during the night of May 15. The operations targeted sites in Taganrog and Yeysk in Russia, as well as in occupied Crimea and the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions, Caliber.Az reports.

According to Brovdi, the strikes resulted in the destruction of a Be-200 “Altair” amphibious aircraft carrying K-27 ammunition in Yeysk, along with a Pantsir air defence system and a Tor air defence system. A cargo vessel transporting ammunition, a locomotive, and several additional military targets were also reportedly hit.

He stated that the operations targeted military facilities deep behind enemy lines, including locations in Berdyansk, Melitopol, and other occupied territories.

Among the reported targets were a Be-200 aircraft and a Ka-27 helicopter in the settlement of Morskoy in Russia; a Tor-M2 air defence system in Honcharove, Luhansk region; a Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile and gun system in Khutorok, Crimea; an ammunition cargo ship in Berdyansk; and an enemy training centre and logistics deployment point in Raihorodka, Luhansk region.

Brovdi added that the destroyed Pantsir and Tor systems marked the 16th and 17th enemy air defence systems eliminated by the “Birds” units of the Unmanned Systems Forces between May 1 and May 15.

According to the statement, Ukrainian drone forces have destroyed a total of 153 enemy air defence assets since December, including 108 missile defence systems, 39 radar systems, and six electronic warfare systems.

The operations were coordinated by the newly established Deep Strike Centre of the Unmanned Systems Forces, Brovdi said.

He also reported that the Ryazan oil refinery had been struck in a separate large-scale operation conducted jointly with deep-strike units of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, military intelligence, and other units.

By Vafa Guliyeva