Ukraine revealed on Sunday the reasons for the intensification of the "war of drones" with Russia, and announced last night to respond to the largest drone attack it has been subjected to since the beginning of the war nearly 15 months ago, at a time when the Kremlin announced what it described as international negotiations that Russian President Vladimir Putin will personally conduct next week.

Ukraine's Southern Operations Command spokeswoman Natalia Humenyuk said the Russians' intensification of drone use in attacks was due to supply problems in their missile arsenal.

Regarding the record number of drones that targeted the country last night, the Ukrainian Air Force said that it shot down 52 of the 54 of these planes launched by Moscow, "more than 40 of them" targeted the capital's airspace, explaining that the attack received several batches and the air warning lasted for more than five hours.

Al Jazeera correspondent reported that a woman was killed as a result of a march near a building in Kiev; the attacks also caused material damage to buildings and commercial centers, in addition to the outbreak of large fires.

Series of mutual attacks

Russian territory has also been targeted in recent weeks by a series of drone attacks, as Kiev talks about preparing a counteroffensive aimed at retaking Russian-held territory, including Crimea.

On May 3, Russia announced the downing of two drones targeting the Kremlin, the official headquarters of Putin. Moscow accused Kiev of being behind the attack, while Ukraine denied having anything to do with it.

In recent weeks, information of drone attacks has intensified, especially in areas bordering Ukraine.

On Saturday, two drones damaged a building running a pipeline in Russia's western Pskov region, local governor Mikhail Federnikov said.

Shelling and missile strikes

In Donetsk in eastern Ukraine, the governor of the Ukrainian province reported that a civilian was killed, and others wounded, in Russian shelling targeting areas controlled by Ukrainian forces last night.

The Ukrainian military said Russian forces launched three missile strikes on military and civilian sites, in addition to 13 raids on the eastern city of Kramatorsk.

Pro-Russian authorities said Ukrainian shelling targeted civilian areas and residential buildings in Donetsk.

In the Krasnodar region, southern Russia, authorities announced the neutralization of drones that tried to approach an oil facility, stressing that the infrastructure of the facility was not damaged.

This month, the refinery was hit by similar attacks, with no casualties, according to Russian authorities.


The attacks came before dawn on the last Sunday of May, when Kiev celebrates its 1541-year anniversary.

The day usually features street exhibitions, live concerts and special exhibitions in museums, and the Ukrainian capital has made plans for this year's celebration, but on a smaller scale than usual.

Andrei Yermak, director of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, wrote on Telegram: "Ukraine's history is an ancient nuisance for anxious Russians."

Putin. Personal international negotiations

On the political front, the television program "Moscow. Kremlin. Putin said on Sunday that Putin was expected to personally hold international negotiations next week.

Russia's TASS news agency reported that the television program did not reveal exactly who the Russian president might meet.

The Russian president will also chair a meeting with the government and hold consultations with the permanent members of the Russian Security Council, according to the same source.

The Kremlin's press service has yet to officially announce Putin's agenda for next week.