Ukrainian air defense successfully intercepted 77 out of 183 Russian drones launched overnight, including 73 Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine [14]. Additionally, two Iskander-M ballistic missiles were intercepted [14].
The Kharkiv region, along with Sumy, Donetsk, and Mykolaiv regions, experienced attacks [14]. A mass drone attack on Kharkiv injured at least 40 people on May 2, 2025 [5, 6, 8].
Russian forces have been using drones with thermobaric warheads, which prosecutors say violate international humanitarian law due to their blast overpressure, vacuum, and high-temperature effects that cause mass destruction and civilian casualties [3].
Russia has increased production of Shahed-131/136 kamikaze drones, adopting "swarm" tactics and expanding attacks to both nighttime and daytime operations [9]. These drones have become a cost-effective weapon for terrorizing civilians [9].
Ukraine has unveiled a domestically developed drone designed to intercept and destroy Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia [12, 20]. This interceptor drone has been deployed in combat and has successfully destroyed more than 20 Shahed-type drones [12, 20].
The upgraded Shahed-136 now carries a 90-kilogram warhead, enhancing its destructive capability, though its range has decreased [23].
Russia has also modified Shahed drones with new antennas and payload systems, and is increasingly using Chinese-made electronics to replace Western components [23].
The United States is working with both sides to broker a durable solution to the Russia-Ukraine war within the next 100 days [10].
Russian forces have started using drones to scatter explosive devices across Ukraine, increasing the danger due to the unpredictability of their detonation [25].
The ongoing conflict continues to see technological and tactical battlefield innovations from both Ukrainian and Russian forces [26].
This article is based on our author's analysis of materials taken from the following resources: www.aljazeera.com, www.kyivindependent.com, and Reuters.