Ukraine knocks 92% of Russian drones

Ukraine in number series here. The country’s Ministry of Defence says that in May 2026, nearly 92% of drones were intercepted by the country’s air defence. The Ministry, citing Air forces data, says that in May alone Russia launched 8.150 various types of drones, and Ukraine knocked down 7.476 of them.

And indeed, the collected data from Ukraine’s daily air defence bulletins reflects that tendency, showing slightly changed dynamics over the year. The graph below displays the night attack intercept rate for May 2026 at just under 92%, confirming the Ministry’s claims. Worth adding that the collected data covers only nighttime activity, typically from early evening through the following morning, and does not account for daytime strikes. The night figures alone record 6.355 drones launched and 5.838 downed. Anyway, it would hardly change the daily liquidation rates. The highest pick of the graph shows that on 14 May 2026, Russia showered Ukraine with 675 drone overnight. To remember, that the preceding day Russian military send roughly 800 more, bringing the full 24-hour total well above 1.400.

Back in January–March 2026, the night attack liquidation rate sat at around 86%, following the same collection and analysis of 62 night attack data from Ukraine’s air defence bulletins. Russia kept sending the same type of drones overnight, primarily Shahed, Gerbera and Italmas.

Comparing the data from January and May alone, we see a 6% increase in the overnight drone liquidation rate, and given the tendency, daily rates are most likely the same. In May, Ukraine’s Defence Ministry said the shoot-down rate of Shaheds by interceptor drones doubled over the last four months, so the rising liquidation rate may be down to the growing use of interceptor drones, though not enough data exists to confirm it with certainty. Ukraine’s air defence system is also layered and multi-tiered, and according to official statements, despite a massive technological leap, interceptor drones as of the first half of 2026 account for between 30% and 40% of all Russian drones destroyed.