Russia Bombards Ukraine With 1,600+ Drones and Missiles for 30 Hours Straight

Russia used its self-declared May 9 “ceasefire” not to pursue peace, but to stockpile drones and missiles for a massive strike across Ukraine. The promised prisoner exchange has also been delayed.

Ukraine endured Russia’s largest and longest aerial assault since the full-scale invasion. Russia’s daytime assault on May 13 escalated into a broader overnight wave of attacks on May 14 across Ukraine’s critical and civilian infrastructure that killed at least 15 people and injured more than 100, including children. In Kyiv and the region, Russian attacks killed one person and injured 32.

The aftermath of Russian attack on Kyiv, Ukraine on May 14, 2026. (Source: State Emergency Service)

The Air Force divided it into three stages:

Day of May 13, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.—753 drones

Night of May 14, 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.—731 drones and missiles

The 30-hour attack was the most intense of the war so far. Air Force spokespeople report that more than 1,600 drones and missiles were launched—beating the previous record of roughly 1,000.

On the night of May 14, Russia launched a massive air attack targeting Ukraine's critical infrastructure. The aggressor used 731 air attack assets: 675 Shahed-type UAVs, 3 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal air-launched ballistic missiles, 18 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 35 Kh-101 cruise… pic.twitter.com/9DuYxIpaTc — Ukrainian Air Force (@KpsZSU) May 14, 2026

The night strike was combined: 56 missiles—35 cruise missiles, 18 Iskander ballistic missiles, and 3 Kinzhal aeroballistic missiles.

Ukrainian forces destroyed or suppressed at least 1,500 aerial threats, including missiles, the preliminary data suggests.

Almost all regions of Ukraine were targeted—west, north, and central areas. Kharkiv and Odesa were hit, with casualties reported.

Russia had never before amassed so many aerial attack weapons for a single strike—prepared under the cover of a so-called “ceasefire.”

Rescuers work at a residential building partially destroyed following Russian drone and missile strikes in Kyiv on May 14, 2026, amid the Russian invasion in Ukraine. (Photo by Roman PILIPEY / AFP via Getty Images)

Peace used to build the attack

Ahead of May 9, which Russia cowardly tried to ignore, Moscow declared a “three-day ceasefire” while seeking assurances from Ukraine to avoid attacking Red Square. Despite those assurances, attacks continued. The Ukrainian side recorded hundreds of ceasefire violations along the front line.

The pause allowed Russia to accumulate drones and missiles. While Ukraine proposed extending the silence regime, Russia prepared a massive assault and launched it immediately after the so-called ceasefire ended. Civilian areas were hit, with casualties and damage to residential buildings.

The attack also passed through Belarusian territory, implicating the self-proclaimed Lukashenko regime. The assault lasted over 30 hours; in the last wave, Kyiv’s air raid sirens lasted 7 hours and 52 minutes.

Russia continues to manipulate the 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange. Despite Ukraine fulfilling its obligations, Moscow is currently stalling the exchange process, reported Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets.

This demonstrates how Russia uses “peace” as a cover to prepare attacks and why its promises cannot be trusted.