Key facts
- Russia launched a record 8,150 Shahed drones at Ukraine in May.
- Poland scrambled fighter jets after a Russian missile violated its airspace.
- Russia deployed cluster munitions in Dnipro, resulting in multiple fatalities.
- Two civilians were killed and one injured in a Russian drone attack on a residential building in Odesa.
- The United States is providing Ukraine with a $250 million security assistance package.
- Ukrainian drones successfully attacked and sunk a Russian ship in the port of Berdyansk.
- Ukraine is using a new Morrigan drone to target Russian logistics highways 50 to 75 miles behind front lines.
- Commercial satellite imagery is being delivered directly to Ukrainian soldiers' phones to enhance drone strike effectiveness.
- Former U.S. submarine commander Charles Maher is developing autonomous naval vessels for Ukraine's coast.
- Lithuania has announced the disruption of Russian sabotage and murder plots.
Russia significantly escalated its drone attacks against Ukraine in May, launching a record 8,150 Shahed drones. In response, Ukraine has increased the intensity of its own drone operations. Russian forces have also employed cluster munitions in Dnipro, a major Ukrainian city, causing multiple fatalities in a densely populated area. Further attacks include a drone strike on a residential building in Odesa, which killed two civilians and injured one, though Ukraine's Air Force successfully intercepted 15 out of 17 launched drones. Poland scrambled fighter jets after a Russian missile violated its airspace, an incident that also involved NATO jets, underscoring heightened regional security concerns. The United States is bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities with a new $250 million security assistance package that includes air defense munitions, artillery, and anti-tank weapons. In a strategic move, Ukrainian drones have successfully attacked and sunk a Russian ship in the occupied port of Berdyansk, degrading Russian naval assets. Ukraine is also employing new drone technology, such as the Morrigan fixed-wing drone, to target Russian logistics highways like the R-280 'Novorossiya' located 50 to 75 miles behind front lines, aiming to disrupt supply and fuel convoys. The effectiveness of Ukrainian drone strikes is being enhanced by the direct delivery of commercial satellite imagery to soldiers' phones, accelerating the kill chain. On the defensive front, former U.S. submarine commander Charles Maher is developing autonomous naval vessels through his startup BlueShadow to create a protective barrier off Ukraine's coast against Russian drones, with the first squadron potentially operational by early 2027. Lithuania has reported disrupting Russian sabotage and murder plots, though specific details remain undisclosed. A French diver, Robin Cuesta, shared his experience of a frontline rescue operation in Ukraine where four individuals were saved. Separately, BBC Verify analysis has corroborated claims of Iranian missile and drone attacks. The U.S. Army Central Command announced the death of an American soldier in a training accident, with identity withheld pending notification. Video evidence shows trucks being hit on key roads within Ukraine, indicative of ongoing conflict impacts. One tweet suggests Ukraine has an opportunity for a humorous or ironic action.