Russian night attack: Ukraine’s Armed Forces shoot down 15 out of 18 cruise missiles. 

On the night of May 1, Russia launched a massive missile attack on Ukraine for the second time in four days. Residents of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, and Khmelnytskyi regions reported hearing explosions 

At 09:17 a.m. on Monday, Yuriy Ihnat, Ukrainian Air Force spokesman, said during a telethon that the Russians used Kh-101 and Kh-555 missiles.

According to him, enemy troops would have fired more missiles if they could afford it.

"The enemy worked with the number that they did not feel sorry to throw at our facilities," Ihnat added.

Previously, at 08:40, the authorities of Khmelnytskyi region reported on the operation of air defense.

"Khmelnytskyi region. At night, during the air raid, our residents could hear the sounds of explosions in some communities of the region. This is the work of air defense forces," the regional military administration said in a statement.

There were no hits to the objects.

At 07:24 Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has reported that during the night, the air defense forces successfully intercepted and destroyed 15 out of the 18 cruise missiles launched by Russia.

At approximately 02:30 in the morning, the Russian invaders carried out an attack on Ukraine using strategic aviation planes. Nine Tu-95s from the Olenegorsk region (Murmansk region) and two Tu-160s from the Caspian Sea region were involved in the assault.

"A total of 18 Kh-101/Kh-555 air-based cruise missiles were launched, but thanks to the efforts of the Air Force's air defense forces, 15 of them were effectively neutralized!" he emphasized.

Earlier, at 06:50 the Kyiv city military administration has reported that the air defense in Kyiv successfully intercepted and shot down all enemy missiles and drones.

"Tonight, Ukraine experienced another large-scale air attack, the second in the past three days. Preliminary information suggests that the missile attack was carried out by strategic aircraft of the Tu-95MS type. The capital was under air raid alert for approximately three hours. The Russian forces employed a combination of cruise missiles and drones in their attack," stated the report.

According to initial reports, Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed all enemy missiles and UAVs in Kyiv's airspace. The final data is currently being verified.

Fortunately, there were no casualties among the civilian population, and no residential structures or infrastructure were damaged as a result of the attack.

In addition, Serhiy Popko, the head of the city's military administration, issued a reminder to the residents and visitors of Kyiv to take air warning signals seriously and adhere to safety protocols.

The first air raid alarm in Ukraine occurred at 06:32 and spread throughout the country.

Ambassador of Great Britain to Ukraine Melinda Simmons commented on the work of the Air Defense Forces in the capital.

"Noisy outside right now. Sounds like Ukraine’s air defense having to work hard in Kyiv to respond to Russia’s May Day wake up call," she tweeted.

AFU showed pictures of local residents waiting at Kyiv metro stations during the alarm. 

At 05:27 in the morning, the head of the Zhytomyr Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Bunechko emphasized that there is still a threat of a missile attack and urged not to share the pictures of the air defense operating. 

At 04:51, the Kyiv City Military Administration reported regarding the functioning of the air defense system.

"The air defense system is currently active! Please remain calm and seek shelter until the air-raid alarm ceases," stated the announcement. The Kyiv Regional Military Administration also advised residents to take refuge in shelters and emphasized the importance of the air defense measures.

"The air defense system is fully operational in the Kyiv region! It is advised to remain in shelters until further notice. Please maintain an information blackout by refraining from documenting or sharing any updates about the activities of the air defense forces on social media platforms," they urged.