Russian forces launched a massive drone attack across Ukraine on the night of May 12–13, 2026, deploying 139 strike drones. The assault left eight people dead and 11 injured in the Dnipropetrovsk region, while causing widespread infrastructure damage and power outages in Kharkiv, Poltava, and Odesa.
Fatalities and Injuries in the Dnipropetrovsk Region
The most severe human cost of the overnight aerial campaign occurred in the Dnipropetrovsk region. According to reporting from RBC-Ukraine, the strikes in this area resulted in eight deaths and left 11 individuals injured. The specific circumstances surrounding these fatalities were not detailed in the initial reports, but the casualty count marks the most significant loss of life among the regions targeted during this wave.
Infrastructure and Energy Disruptions in Poltava and Kharkiv
The attack heavily targeted energy and municipal infrastructure, leading to significant service disruptions. In Poltava, a drone struck an electrical substation, causing a localized blackout that left more than 7,000 people without power. The impact also extended to residential areas, where the strike caused damage to the glazing of nearby houses.
Kharkiv also faced direct hits, with two districts coming under fire. In the Kholodnohirskyi district, a strike damaged an infrastructure object and ignited a fire. While the damage to the facility was confirmed, officials reported that no casualties occurred in that specific district during the incident.
Industrial Damage in Odesa
Odesa’s industrial sector was another primary target of the drone swarm. The strikes caused damage to warehouse premises within the city’s industrial infrastructure. Emergency services responded to the scene to manage fires resulting from the impact; these fires were successfully extinguished, and no casualties were reported in the Odesa strikes.
Scale of the Aerial Campaign
The scale of the operation was characterized by the high volume of munitions used by Russian forces. Data indicates that between the evening of May 12 and the morning of May 13, Russia utilized 139 strike drones in a coordinated effort to hit multiple regions across the country. This multi-pronged approach targeted various types of assets, including energy substations, industrial warehouses, and general municipal infrastructure.