Ukraine launched its largest drone assault on Russian territory to date between May 19 and the early hours of May 22, targeting more than a dozen regions with long-range aircraft-type drones. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it intercepted 485 drones over a 72-hour period, calling the campaign unprecedented in scale.
“Air defense systems shot down 485 aircraft-type uncrewed aerial vehicles,” the ministry said in a statement on its Telegram channel.
“This is a new record for Ukraine,” Ukrainian analyst Petro Andryushchenko wrote. “The longest-running attack by Ukrainian UAVs, which began around 11 p.m. on May 19 and lasted until 4 a.m. on May 22.”
Russia claimed its air defenses destroyed 159 drones on May 22 alone, with 63 aimed at the Moscow region. Officials said 22 were downed over the capital and 24 more in surrounding oblasts, including Kursk, Oryol, Tula, Bryansk, Ryazan, Belgorod, Ivanovo, Vladimir, Voronezh, and Lipetsk.
In Moscow, air defenses forced the suspension of flights at several airports, including Domodedovo.
Video showed rotary-wing aircraft firing at targets over residential areas.
Russian helicopters are trying to shoot down Ukrainian drones near the Domodedove Airport in Moscow.
Ukraine has launched its largest ever drone attack against Russia.
Flights from Moscow’s airports have been suspended pic.twitter.com/pkdagouIHB
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) May 22, 2025
One drone reportedly struck Russia’s Patriot Park, a military theme and exhibition complex managed by the Defense Ministry. Footage shared on social media showed smoke rising from the site, though the extent of the damage remains unconfirmed.
🇺🇦❌🇷🇺💥A Ukrainian drone struck the Patriot Park in Kubinka, Russia’s Moscow region!
Patriot Park is a military-themed amusement park. It showcases Russian military equipment and commemorates the Soviet Union’s victory in World War II. pic.twitter.com/qLViv1zQiR
— Monitor𝕏 (@MonitorX99800) May 22, 2025
In Lipetsk, Governor Igor Artamonov reported that eight civilians were injured when debris from downed drones fell over an industrial zone. “Please stay indoors and away from windows,” he said in a public message to residents.
Just hours after the reported drone wave ended, Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces reportedly launched another strike early on May 23, targeting the Energia battery plant in the city of Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast.
Overnight, Ukrainian drones attacked the “Energia” plant in Russia’s Lipetsk region. Eyewitnesses report at least 10 explosions. The plant, a key power source manufacturer, produces batteries for UAVs, communication systems, electronic warfare equipment, and components for… pic.twitter.com/lkcBmoQXyN
— WarTranslated (@wartranslated) May 23, 2025
According to Ukraine’s General Staff, the strike triggered a series of explosions and set the facility on fire.
The Energia plant is one of Russia’s largest producers of chemical power sources for its military. It is the only domestic manufacturer of batteries for guidance and correction modules on aerial bombs.
The facility also produces power systems used in Iskander-M tactical missile systems, naval cruise missiles, and specialized equipment across Russia’s defense sector.
The Ukrainian General Staff said damage to the plant could interrupt the supply of critical components used in a wide range of Russian guided munitions. The statement said the operation’s goal was to “deprive Russian occupying forces of vital power elements” and that attacks on such facilities will continue “to force Russia to stop armed aggression against Ukraine.”
