Upon returning from visits to Italy, Germany, France and the United Kingdom, the Ukrainian president, who had just arrived in Kiev, gathered the high command of the army both to inform them about the program of supply of Western weapons and ammunition, and to get news of the hostilities underway on the front lines. Zelensky himself wrote it on Telegram. He added: "Enemy flags will never fly on our land and our people will never be enslaved. The resistance in today's battles, the strength of our active actions, the courage and precision of our warriors every day and every night are the independence of Ukraine that will be permanent. Independence that we are strengthening and will continue to do so".
The Russians launched 18 missiles against Ukraine overnight, all of which were shot down by the country's forces, the head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valeriy Zaluzhny, announced on Telegram, as reported by the national media. A total of 18 "air, sea and land missiles of various types" were launched against the country, Zaluzhny wrote: "All 18 missiles were destroyed by the Air Force forces and means of air defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," he added.
"At about 03:30 on May 16, 2023, Russian invaders attacked Ukraine from the northern, southern and eastern directions," Zaluzhny wrote. According to the head of the Armed Forces, the Russians launched six X-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles from six MiG-31K aircraft, nine Kalibr cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based missiles (S-400 and Iskander-M). Shahed kamikaze drones have also been launched, he added.
Ukraine in last night's massive attack also managed to shoot down six Russian hypersonic missiles. This was stated by the commander-in-chief of the armed forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny on Telegram, as reported by Ukrainska Pravda. In addition to the 6 Kh-47M2 Kinzhal ballistic missiles, the Russians also launched nine Caliber cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three land-based missiles (S-400, Iskander-M). All 18 missiles were destroyed by the air defense forces and means of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat said all six Kinzhal ballistic missiles shot down last night were flying towards the capital Kiev. This is reported by the website Zn.ua and Ukrinform. "The work is hugely successful. Sei Kinzhal is an impressive indicator. Kiev remains the epicenter, the capital has always been a priority for Russians, so it is protected by serious means. Here there are infrastructure structures and other important state structures," Ignat said.
Russia launched an air attack of "exceptional intensity" on Kiev overnight, the military administration of the Ukrainian capital announced, as reported by the Kyiv Independent. It was the "maximum number of missile strikes in the shortest amount of time" possible, the administration explained on its Telegram channel, adding that Russian forces likely used drones, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles.
According to preliminary information, the Ukrainian air defense destroyed most of the Russian drones and missiles, the debris of which fell in the Shevchenkivskyi, Sviatoshynskyi, Solomianskyi, Obolonskyi and Darnytskyi districts. The greatest damage was reported in the Solomianskyi district, where a fire broke out in a non-residential building. Debris from drones and missiles fell on parked cars, yards and parks in other districts. At the moment there are no casualties.
"The situation in Bakhmut is tense, but Russian forces continue to advance and have sent reinforcements," Denis Pushilin, head of the pro-Russian administration of the self-proclaimed republic of Donetsk, was quoted as saying by Tass. He added that Russian forces have captured several fortifications of Ukrainian forces in the direction of Avdiivka, also in the eastern Donetsk region.
