Russian drone attack on Kyiv injured 11 people, including 2 children

A series of explosions rattled Kyiv in the early hours of May 4, as Russian forces launched a drone assault on Ukraine’s capital, local officials reported.

At least 11 civilians were injured in the attack, including two teenagers aged 14 and 17, according to Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

Debris from downed drones struck residential neighborhoods across the city, damaging homes and vehicles in several districts, including Shevchenkivskyi, Obolonskyi, and Svyatoshynskyi. In the Obolonskyi district, part of the Dream Town shopping mall was hit, while seven cars were destroyed and the upper floors of a high-rise building caught fire.

Emergency crews were dispatched to multiple sites to manage fires, assist the wounded, and assess structural damage.

The overnight assault is part of a wider escalation in Russian attacks on Ukrainian population centers in recent weeks, with deadly strikes reported in Kryvyi Rih, Sumy, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Kyiv. These repeated attacks have targeted both residential areas and vital infrastructure, killing and injuring dozens of civilians.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a temporary three-day ceasefire from May 7 to 9, to coincide with Russia’s annual Victory Day celebrations commemorating the end of World War II in Europe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky swiftly rejected the offer, calling it a "theatrical performance" aimed at softening Russia’s international image rather than ending the war.

“There’s nothing sincere about a truce that’s only meant to serve propaganda purposes,” Zelensky said, reiterating Ukraine’s demand for a full and unconditional ceasefire as a prerequisite for meaningful negotiations.

Despite Moscow’s ceasefire proposal, attacks like the one that shook Kyiv early Saturday morning continue to erode any confidence in Russia’s stated intentions.

Ukrainian air defence downs 69 out of 165 Russian drones

Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 165 attack UAVs and decoy drones on the night of 3-4 May. Ukrainian air defence shot down 69 drones, while 80 more disappeared from radar without causing adverse effects.

Russians destroyed a shipping company service's depot and office in Izium, Kharkiv Oblast

A Russian drone attack overnight severely damaged a Nova Poshta postal office and logistics depot in the city of Izium, located in Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast, the company reported on Telegram.

Nova Poshta, Ukraine’s largest private postal and delivery operator, said the strike sparked a massive fire that destroyed a significant number of customer parcels. The company assured customers that the full value of all lost packages will be reimbursed.

Fortunately, no staff or civilians were present at the site during the attack, and no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Due to the damage, Nova Poshta warned that deliveries to Izium and surrounding areas may be delayed throughout the week as the company works to restore operations and assess the full extent of the loss.

Eight Russian glide bombs hit Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and injures two civilians

Russian forces launched at least eight guided aerial bombs on the frontline town of Orikhiv in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast early Sunday morning, May 4, according to regional officials.

Ivan Fedorov, head of the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, reported that the strikes caused significant damage to residential buildings in the area.

"At least eight enemy guided aerial bombs have attacked frontline Orikhiv," Fedorov said in a statement.

Preliminary information confirms that two civilians were injured in the attack. Emergency crews are assessing the extent of the destruction and providing assistance on the ground.

Ukrainian Forces Down Two Russian Su-30SM Fighter Jets in one day

On May 3, 2025, Ukrainian forces achieved a significant victory by destroying two Russian Su-30SM fighter jets, each valued at approximately $50 million, near the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk. According to Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, the jets were shot down using AIM-9 Sidewinder infrared-guided air-to-air missiles launched from Magura-7 naval drones, marking the world’s first use of air-to-air missiles from an uncrewed surface vessel (USV). This operation underscores Ukraine’s innovative approach to countering Russia’s air superiority in the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War.

The first Su-30SM was reportedly hit by a Magura V5 sea drone in occupied Crimea, with the crew ejecting and surviving, later rescued by a civilian ship in the Black Sea. The second jet was downed during a strike on Russian military facilities, though conflicting reports suggest both jets may have been targeted by the same naval drone operation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the operation, calling it “brilliant work” and highlighting its role in demonstrating Ukraine’s military strength as a path to a just peace.

This strike follows Ukraine’s pattern of targeting Russian air assets, with 329 Russian jets and 324 helicopters reportedly downed since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to Ukrainian sources. The use of American-supplied AIM-9M missiles, rather than Soviet-era R-73s, highlights Ukraine’s integration of Western technology to bolster its defense capabilities. The operation not only dealt a financial and strategic blow to Russia but also showcased Ukraine’s growing proficiency in asymmetric warfare, leveraging drones to challenge Moscow’s advanced air force.