Kremlin Launches Massive Drone Barrage as Prelude to Cruise and Ballistic Missile Attacks, HUR Warns

Russia has launched a large-scale combined air assault against Ukraine that could continue for an extended period and unfold in multiple waves, according to The Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR) on May 13.

HUR said the opening phase of the attack involves large numbers of strike drones designed to overload Ukrainian air defenses while targeting civilian infrastructure.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia is expected to follow the initial drone waves with cruise missiles launched from both aircraft and naval platforms, as well as ballistic missile strikes.

Potential targets include critical infrastructure and life-support systems in major Ukrainian cities, including energy facilities, defense industry enterprises, and government buildings.

“Russia, having rejected ceasefire proposals, is once again trying to undermine Ukraine’s resilience in the war for freedom,” the intelligence agency stated.

Ukrainian citizens were urged not to ignore air raid alerts and to immediately move to shelters during attack warnings.

Ukrainian military and radio technology specialist, advisor of the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Serhii Beskrestnov, said Russian forces are attempting to saturate Ukraine’s air defenses so that as many targets as possible can break through deep into the country, particularly toward western regions.

“Our guys are working. Of course, the enemy prepares for these attacks, conducts reconnaissance of our electronic warfare systems, and studies air defense positions. Our task is to anticipate the enemy’s moves,” Beskrestnov said.

He also noted that Russian Shahed-type drones could theoretically fly across short sections of Belarusian airspace but instead continue to skirt the Belarusian border despite the longer and more complex routes.

“For the enemy, that means additional risks of being shot down, longer flight times, and more difficult route programming,” he said, suggesting this may indicate that Belarus remains reluctant to fully open its airspace to Russian strike operations even on a limited scale.

Earlier, Ukrainian P1-SUN interceptors successfully downed Russian Gerbera drones equipped with FPV drones on board for the first time.

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