Russia launches new strikes on Ukraine

Air raid alerts sounded in many regions of Ukraine, including Kyiv, on the evening of May 16.

Witnesses report two explosions in Mykolaiv. Oleksandr Sienkevych, the mayor of Mykolaiv, said that a fire started following missile strikes. The fire is localized on one infrastructural target, reports regional governor Vitaliy Kim. According to Kim, shrapnel wounded one resident.

Ukrainian media reports that both attack drones and missiles were involved in the strikes. A threat of attacks has been reported in the Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytsky, and Donetsk regions.

Presidential adviser Andriy Yermak called on Ukrainians to keep the country’s air defense systems online.

In the early hours of May 16 Russia carried out an unusually large missile strike on Kyiv. Ukraine’s Armed Forces said they shot down all the drones and missiles involved, including six Kinzhal ballistic missiles. Russia said the strike destroyed a Patriot missile defense system in Kyiv.