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The night of May 3 marked yet another exchange of massive strikes between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that over the past week, Russia deployed approximately 1,600 strike drones, 1,100 guided aerial bombs, and three missiles.
In Dnipropetrovsk Region, drones struck a gas station in Krynychky and the area around the Dolhyntseve airfield in Kryvyi Rih — an important hub for aviation and logistics in the south, including a military compound with warehouses.
In Kharkiv, approximately ten strikes on gas stations occurred over two days — a systematic Russian campaign against the fuel station network of several regions. In Mykolaiv, Iskander strikes caused power outages; pinpoint hits were also recorded in Zaporizhzhia and Chernihiv regions, while dozens of Geranium drones circled over Kyiv, including decoys designed to distract air defense.
Key strikes on Ukraine from April 29 – May 2
May 2: The targeting of gas stations continued in Kharkiv for a second day — nine gas stations were attacked over two days. The Ukrainian side reported the use of V2U drones with artificial intelligence elements. In Druzhkivka, a Su-34 strike with a UMPK-equipped FAB bomb hit a gas equipment plant.
May 1: Substations burned in Mykolaiv — a precise strike hit a transformer substation that powered the Zorya-Mashproekt plant, which produces components for drones, naval drones, and rocket engine elements. Russian Aerospace Forces also struck river crossings, railway logistics, and warehouses in Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia regions.
April 30: Six strikes on Odesa destroyed a shopping center, a hotel, warehouses, and the Stalkanat plant; in Mykolaiv Region, the Uteshne, Oktiabrska, and Ochakivska substations were damaged.
Kharkiv Region lost a locomotive in Liubotyn and hangars in Hubarivka; in Izium, a Nova Poshta terminal — one of the Ukrainian military’s key logistics centers — burned down.
April 29: The key event was a strike on Kryvyi Rih, which Ukrainian authorities later acknowledged as the destruction of an “important facility.” This was an underground workshop where drones were assembled — including those with jet engines. At the same time, energy facilities powering this military plant were bombed. Retired Ukrainian Colonel Matviychuk explained the city’s significance: from there, naval drones were quickly transported across the river and by rail directly to the Black Sea. The factories of Kryvyi Rih, built during Soviet times to withstand nuclear war, are extremely resilient, prompting Russia to deploy hypersonic Kinzhal missiles and concrete-penetrating aerial bombs.
On the same day, two Iskander-M missiles struck the Chuhuiv Fuel Equipment Plant. The facility repaired and maintained fuel systems for military equipment: engines of armored vehicles, cargo transport, and generator units. Component warehouses may have been located on the premises.
A separate mention is warranted by the statement from the CEO of ArcelorMittal in Kryvyi Rih: over two months, Russian drones disabled 12 locomotives at Ukraine’s largest metallurgical plant.
Strikes on Russian Territory
On the night of May 3, Ukrainian forces conducted one of the most massive attacks to date. Russian air defense reported 334 fixed-wing drones shot down overnight and another 269 during the day — a total of 603 drones over 24 hours across 20 regions.
The main target was again the seaport of Primorsk in Leningrad Region. A fire broke out, later extinguished; no oil product spill was recorded. Russian media and Telegram channels again claimed that Ukraine used the airspace of NATO countries — specifically Estonia. Video appeared of a drone flying over Narva. Estonia did not comment.
For the second day, drones in “harassing mode” attempted to break through toward Moscow. The furthest cities attacked were Yaroslavl and Nizhny Novgorod. Over Bryansk Region, 134 drones were shot down or suppressed.
Ukrainian forces also attacked the external radiation control laboratory at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The station stated that the laboratory ensures continuous monitoring of the radiation situation, and that such actions pose a threat to nuclear safety. No casualties were reported, no critical equipment damage was recorded, and the station is operating normally. IAEA inspectors have been notified.
The Ukrainian president released video of a naval drone striking a tanker belonging to Russia’s “shadow fleet” near Novorossiysk. According to him, two vessels were attacked.
Close examination of the footage showed that it was the same unmanned boat and the same tanker, shown from different angles with contrast adjustments. The result of the strike is unknown. This continues a systematic campaign against Russia’s shadow oil fleet: in November 2025, the tankers Kairos and Virat were hit in the Black Sea; in January 2026, Delta Harmony and Matilda were struck near the Caspian Pipeline Consortium terminal; in April, the Sheskharis terminal itself was hit in Novorossiysk.
On May 1, Ukrainian forces struck the Tuapse oil refinery and port oil terminal for the fourth time in two weeks. Satellite imagery confirmed the destruction of 24 tanks (approximately 52%) and damage to four more (9%) — a total of about 60% of the tank farm taken out of service. The refinery, with a capacity of 12 million tons of oil per year, has been almost completely idle since April 16.
The same night, Ukraine attempted to attack the Crimean Bridge using ten naval unmanned boats. Russian border guards and Black Sea Fleet sailors repelled the attack.
On April 29-30, Perm came under drone strikes — the Lukoil-Permnefteorgsintez plant and an oil pumping station caught fire. The condition of the oil pumping station in Perm today is catastrophic: according to open sources, it has been completely destroyed. The main tanks and pumping equipment have burned to the ground.
Against this backdrop, Russian oil refining volumes, according to Bloomberg citing OilX, have fallen to their lowest level since late 2009 — approximately 4.69 million barrels per day. Compared to the start of 2026, the decline is 11%; year-on-year, 12%; relative to pre-war 2021, 18% (nearly 1 million barrels per day). In April alone, according to Bloomberg’s calculations, Ukrainian forces conducted 21 strikes on Russian oil infrastructure: nine on refineries, six on seaports and terminals.
However, the Associated Press offers a more cautious assessment: the effect of Ukrainian strikes remains ambiguous and limited. “It looks spectacular, but it delays supplies by only a few days,” said Chris Weafer, head of Macro-Advisory. At the same time, rising global oil prices amid the crisis around Iran are offsetting losses: in March, Russian oil exports increased, and revenues nearly doubled — to $19 billion. Ukrainian strikes cause more environmental harm than systemic economic damage, environmentalists warn.
Thus, the week of mutual strikes showed that Russia continues to pressure Ukraine’s ports, energy infrastructure, and railway logistics. Ukraine responds by attacking Russian oil infrastructure from the Baltic to the Black Sea, using NATO countries’ airspace for long-range strikes.