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On the night of May 7, Ukrainian forces launched another large-scale attack targeting multiple Russian regions, including Moscow, Crimea, and key industrial facilities. Despite the intensity of the assault, Russian air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of targets, though some drones reportedly managed to strike critical infrastructure.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is yet to release the official report about the intercepted drones and missiles, but the local reports help to reveal the main targets of Ukrainian night attacks. Russian air defense systems were reportedly active across multiple regions, including Kursk, Oryol, Kaluga, Ryazan, and Crimea.
Sirens again sounded in Sevastopol in Crimea. According to local monitoring sources, several UAVs were shot down over the peninsula, and the Ukrainian military reportedly launched Neptune missiles that were destroyed. No damage was confirmed as a result of the strikes.
Moscow faced another drone assault, with Mayor Sergei Sobyanin confirming the interception of at least seven UAVs approaching the capital.
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One of the successful drone strikes was reported in the city of Saransk (Republic of Mordovia), where Ukrainian UAVs targeted the Optico-Volokonnye Sistemy plant—a key producer of fiber optics for Russian military drones. The facility had already been attacked once on April 5, but this time, the strike reportedly caused fires and possible damage.
Fiber-optic-guided drones are crucial for Russian forces, as they are immune to electronic warfare (EW) due to their wired control systems. The repeated strikes suggest Ukraine is systematically attempting to disrupt Russia’s drone production capabilities.
Unconfirmed reports also indicate a drone attack in Tula, likely targeting a facility involved in manufacturing multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). While details remain unclear, the strike aligns with Ukraine’s strategy of weakening Russia’s artillery production.
Ukrainian attacks appear aimed at mainly creating psychological and media impact ahead of key dates, testing Russian air defense responses, especially around Moscow, while only some strikes are aimed at disrupting critical military production
Despite the scale of the assault, most drones were intercepted, reinforcing Russia’s robust air defense network. However, the repeated strikes on key military plants highlight a vulnerability in protecting strategic industries.
