Russia Conducts Largest Aerial Operation of Ukraine War, Deploying ~1,600 Drones and 56 Missiles

Russia launched the largest aerial strike of the war on 2026-05-13 and the night of 2026-05-13 into 2026-05-14, @CBSNews reported. The assault involved nearly 1,600 Russian drones and 56 Russian missiles targeted at Ukraine. The scale of the operation surpassed any previous Russian aerial attack since the full-scale invasion began more than four years ago.

Ukrainian air defenses faced waves of drones followed by missile strikes across multiple regions during the evening and overnight hours. By morning on 2026-05-14, emergency services in several cities were still assessing the aftermath. Power outages and damage to infrastructure were reported in areas hit by the combined drone and missile barrage, though comprehensive tallies remained incomplete.

The strike came as Russian forces have increasingly relied on massed cheap drones to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses before launching more expensive precision missiles. Nearly 1,600 drones alone represented a significant escalation in volume from prior operations. Ukrainian officials described the night as one of the most intense periods of aerial activity in recent months.

Rescue teams worked through the early hours of 2026-05-14 to extinguish fires and clear debris at multiple impact sites. Russia has not commented publicly on the operation. The strike fits a pattern of intensified aerial campaigns that have targeted energy facilities, transportation hubs and military sites across Ukraine.

As of midday on 2026-05-14, Ukrainian air force statements had not provided a full intercept count or breakdown of where the 56 missiles struck. Officials warned residents to expect continued alerts in coming days.