Russia launches large-scale drone attack on Kharkiv: 20 hits, four people injured
The Russians launched a large-scale drone attack on Kharkiv on the night of 5-6 May. Twenty hits have been recorded in different districts of the city within two hours. Four people have been reported injured.
Source: Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov
Quote: "Kharkiv was under a large-scale attack by enemy drones for two hours. Seventeen strikes on the city were recorded during this time. Four districts of Kharkiv were targeted – Shevchenkivskyi, Kyivskyi, Kholodnohirskyi and Industrialnyi.
Early reports indicated that two people had been injured."
Details: Terekhov said one of the strikes had caused a fire at one of the city's largest markets in the Kyivskyi district.
Dmytro Yatsychenko, Head of the department of the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, reported that Russian drones had hit business premises, a shopping centre and homes.
Later, Terekhov added that Kharkiv had been hit 20 times by Shahed drones in four city districts across eight scenes
Updated: Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, reported at 06:47 that the number of injured had risen to four.
"A 59-year-old man and a 44-year-old man also suffered acute stress reactions," he added.
Background: It was earlier reported that a Russian Shahed drone had struck a densely populated area of Kharkiv, resulting in a house catching fire.
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Ukrainian "Dovbush" UAV carrying and releasing two FPV drones during "Dovbush" UAV is reportedly capable of carrying up to six FPV drones at the same — Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (BlueSky too) (@Archer83Able) November 19, 2024 Despite all this, America's armed forces have also continued to lag in the fielding of counter-drone defenses for forces down-range, as well as bases and other assets in and around the homeland. Domestically, an often convoluted array of legal, regulatory, and other factors have presented challenges. On the sidelines of a U.S. military counter-drone experiment called Falcon Peak 2025 in October 2024, TWZ and other outlets were notably told that lasers, microwaves, surface-to-air missiles, and guns were all off the table as options for neutralizing drones within the United States, at least at the time. For over a decade I have outlined the exact scenario as we just saw in Russia. It could happen in the U.S. tomorrow. This was a pivotal event. U.S. military and political leadership cannot live in partial denial of this threat anymore. Our most prized aircraft are sitting ducks. — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 1, 2025 The biggest challenge with this issue is education. Many just don't take the time to learn the ins and outs of the UAS threat, there are many layers and nuances, emerging technologies. There are high up people in the military that don't even really understand these basics. Then… — Tyler Rogoway (@Aviation_Intel) June 1, 2025 The U.S. military does continue to push for enhancements to the authorities it has now to protect its bases and other assets domestically against drone threats. As part of a new Pentagon-wide counter-drone strategy rolled out last year, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) has a 'synchronizer role' that includes making sure commanders know what they are allowed to do now if drones appear around their facilities. Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian air bases this past weekend can only add to the already intense debate over investments in hardened aircraft shelters and other fortified infrastructure, as well as fuel calls for new counter-drone defenses, in general. The stark reality of what Ukrainian intelligence services have now demonstrated makes clear that uncrewed aerial threats, including to key assets deep inside a country's national territory, are well past the point of something that can be ignored. Contact the author: joe@
