Russia Launches 287 Attack Drones on Ukraine Overnight — 279 Intercepted; Continued Infrastructure Pressure

Overnight on May 16–17, 2026, Russia launched 287 attack drones against Ukrainian territory. Ukraine's Air Force intercepted or suppressed 279 of them. The attacks continued Russia's sustained campaign targeting Ukrainian energy, civilian infrastructure, and frontline positions. Russia also conducted 95 airstrikes and dropped over 300 guided aerial bombs. EMPR Media reported that over the preceding 24-hour period Russia deployed 9,645 kamikaze drones, 3,305 artillery shelling attacks, and 74 MLRS attacks. The ongoing aerial campaign reflects Russian military strategy of exhausting Ukrainian air defenses through volume, even as Ukraine's interception rates have remained high. No specific mass casualty events were reported from this particular overnight wave, though multiple regions remained under threat.