Ukraine Destroys Russian Air Defenses In Multi-Platform Attacks

On May 23, Russia launched an extensive air attack on Ukraine involving Iskander-M ballistic missiles and approximately 175 Shahed drones from multiple directions, but Ukrainian air defense forces successfully shot down 91 drones with fire weapons and neutralized 59 more using electronic warfare across various regions. Ukrainian unmanned systems forces have actively targeted and destroyed several advanced Russian air defense systems, including S-300, Tor-M2, and Buk-M3 missile units, as well as command and control vehicles, significantly disrupting Russian layered air defense capabilities in the Donetsk region. The use of American Switchblade 600 strike drones in coordination with Ukrainian reconnaissance drones has extended the operational reach of Ukrainian forces, allowing them to engage Russian targets tens of kilometers behind front lines. On May 22, Russian forces conducted a precision strike using an Iskander-M ballistic missile against a U.S.-supplied Patriot air defense system in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, reportedly destroying key components, though independent verification of the damage is unavailable. Meanwhile, NATO officials warn that Russia’s rapid military production and economic mobilization could enable a major offensive by 2027 or later, emphasizing the urgency for NATO allies to increase defense spending and ammunition stocks to counter Russia’s growing capabilities.