The Russian Ministry of Defense reports that Russian air defenses intercepted 1,054 Ukrainian drones on May 17 and 353 the previous day. In all, it said that 3,125 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Russia during the past week. The massive overnight attack of May 16-17 killed four people. The interceptions took place across at least 14 regions, including Crimea and, notably, Moscow and the Moscow Region—the most heavily defended area of Russia. The drones that did get through produced dramatic video footage of a fire on the Moscow Ring Road (beltway) and at refineries and oil storage facilities in northern Moscow near Sheremetyevo Airport.
Ukrainian acting President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said the attack was a “justified” response to Russia’s prolongation of the war. His own representatives, however, have repeatedly stalled negotiations to end it.
