Over three consecutive nights, May 23-26, 2025, russia conducted three of its largest-scale one-way attack unmanned aerial systems (OWA UAS) attacks against Ukraine since the start of the war. The OWA UAS strikes were part of a wider multi-axis, multi-weapon strike package, particularly targeting Kyiv, according to the UK Defense Intelligence.
Over 900 OWA UAS were fired at Ukraine over the three-day period. Russian long range aviation (LRA) bombers were involved on back-to-back nights on May 25 and 26, 2025. These two overnight strikes are the first instance of russia utilizing LRA including the Tu-95MS aircraft on consecutive days since August 2024.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: russia Quietly Reinstates General Linked to the Wagner Group in Diplomatic Role
Russia's most recent combined strike package utilising LRA prior to May 24-25, 2025, was on April 24, 2025. Russia's post-strike rebuilding of its stockpile enables LRA to sit ready to conduct strikes such as these with little to no notice, at a time of russia's choosing.
As Defense Express previously reported, after months out of the public eye, former russian commander Sergey Surovikin has appeared at an embassy event in Algeria, signaling a new official role amid lingering questions about his ties to the Wagner Group.
As Defense Express also outlined earlier, russian Security Council Secretary and former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's military contract has reportedly been extended for a further 5 years to run until 2030, when he will turn 75 years old. Sergei Shoigu, a close ally of Vladimir Putin, reportedly missed russia's May 9, 2025, Victory Day parade in Moscow for health-related reasons.
Read more: The UK Defense Intelligence: Still Loyal, Still Useful – Former Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu's Career Is Extended Despite Absence
