Russian forces launched one of the largest drone and missile strikes of the war against Ukraine on the night of May 25-26, 2025. Over 355 Shahed and decoy drones and nine KH-101 cruise missiles were fired from multiple directions, including Russian territory and occupied Crimea.
Ukraine’s air defences successfully shot down all nine missiles and 233 drones. Another 55 drones were lost or disappeared from radar. The strikes targeted Chernihiv, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, Odesa, and Kyiv oblasts, causing civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure and homes.
This attack followed two previous nights of record Russian strikes, marking the three-day wave as the most intense aerial attack of the war so far. In total, Russia launched over 900 drones in this period.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attacks and accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of choosing war over peace. Zelensky said there is no sign that Russia is interested in diplomatic negotiations to end the conflict.
Russia appears committed to a prolonged war, increasing drone production and missile stockpiling to achieve its military goals. Ukrainian intelligence assesses that the Kremlin aims for Ukraine’s complete capitulation and is preparing for conflict with NATO.
On the battlefield, Russian forces made limited advances northeast of Kharkiv city and in Sumy Oblast. However, their overall rate of advance remains slow. Analysts estimate it would take decades for Russia to seize all targeted Ukrainian territories at the current pace, with heavy casualties.
The Kremlin also uses large strikes and aggressive rhetoric to undermine Ukrainian morale and Western support. Russia’s strategy includes cognitive warfare to isolate Ukraine from its allies.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes against Russian defence industrial sites in Tatarstan and other Russian regions on May 25-26, showing Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russia.
The recent escalation comes as U.S. diplomatic efforts to broker a ceasefire have stalled. Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticised both Putin for escalating the war and Zelensky for not responding effectively.
The U.S. is reportedly stepping back from providing some military aid, raising concerns about Ukraine’s defence capabilities.
The war remains intense, with heavy Russian aerial assaults causing civilian harm. Ukraine continues to defend against massive drone and missile waves while calling for stronger Western support. Russia shows no sign of ending the conflict soon and is preparing for a prolonged fight.