Ukraine Endures 8-Hour Russian Drone Assault in Overnight Attack

The Ukrainian town of Vasylkiv, located just south of Kyiv, came under relentless attack from Russian suicide drones for eight hours overnight on May 18, marking one of the longest continuous aerial assaults in the region in recent months.

Residents were forced to take shelter as wave after wave of Iranian-made Shahed drones targeted the area, triggering air raid sirens throughout the night. Ukrainian air defenses were activated immediately, intercepting several drones, but the prolonged attack caused significant alarm and disrupted daily life in the town.

Local authorities reported that while no casualties were confirmed, damage to infrastructure and property was still being assessed. Emergency response teams were deployed in the early morning hours to investigate impact zones and assist residents affected by the strikes.

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The attack on Vasylkiv is part of a broader escalation in Russia’s drone warfare tactics, aimed at exhausting Ukrainian air defenses and sowing terror among civilians.

These suicide drones — cheap, unmanned aircraft loaded with explosives — have become a frequent tool in Russia’s ongoing campaign against Ukraine, especially in towns near key logistical routes or military installations.

Vasylkiv, known for its strategic air base and proximity to the capital, has been a repeated target since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. The town’s resilience in the face of such assaults has become a symbol of Ukrainian defiance, with local officials praising the bravery of residents and the effectiveness of air defense units.

As Ukraine braces for another challenging summer of warfare, incidents like the Vasylkiv drone attack underscore the ongoing threat posed by Russia’s long-range aerial campaign. Ukrainian leaders have renewed calls for additional Western air defense systems and support to counter the growing scale and intensity of these drone strikes.