Ukraine warns Russia may be preparing major air strikes

By Ahmet Taş | Wise News Press
ANKARA, TÜRKİYE — Ukraine’s Air Force has warned that Russia may be preparing new large-scale air attacks against Ukrainian territory in the coming days.

Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, said on May 12 during a national television broadcast that Russian strategic aviation activity and the redeployment of tactical aircraft had been observed. According to Ihnat, the movements may indicate preparations for new missile and drone attacks.

Russian strategic aviation activity observed

Ukraine’s Air Force said increased activity had been detected at Russian strategic aviation airfields. These facilities are commonly associated with preparations for long-range missile strikes, according to Ukrainian military officials.

Ihnat said warnings about a possible large-scale attack were not accidental and were based on intelligence data received both from Ukraine’s partners and from the country’s own intelligence structures.

He also noted that Russian tactical aviation had recently been redeployed, while activity had also been recorded at airfields used by Russian strategic aircraft.

According to the Ukrainian side, Russia periodically moves aircraft to remote airfields in an effort to protect them from possible attacks. Such movements may be defensive, but Ukrainian officials say they can also be read as a sign of possible preparations for new strikes.

Attacks could happen at any moment, officials say

The Ukrainian Air Force did not give a precise time for a possible attack. However, officials warned that new strikes could be launched at any moment.

Ihnat said several indicators are being evaluated together, including the movement of strategic bombers, tactical aircraft redeployments, activity at air bases and intelligence reports.

Ukraine has repeatedly warned that Russia can quickly launch missile and drone strikes once aircraft and launch platforms are prepared. Because of this, the Air Force urged civilians not to ignore air raid alerts.

Officials said the risk is particularly high during night and early morning hours, when Russia has often used drones and missiles to target Ukrainian regions. Civilians were advised to move to shelters when alerts are issued and to follow official information channels.

Missile and drone attacks may intensify again

Throughout the war, Russia has carried out waves of missile, cruise missile and kamikaze drone attacks against Ukraine. Energy infrastructure, military facilities, transport lines, ports and residential areas have been among the targets in previous strikes.

The latest warning has increased concern that Russia may be preparing a renewed wave of attacks. Ukrainian officials say strategic aviation could be used to strike multiple targets across the country at the same time.

In such attacks, Russia often combines several types of weapons. Missile strikes may be accompanied by Shahed-type attack drones in an attempt to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses from different directions.

This mixed tactic creates both military and psychological pressure. Air defense systems must respond to multiple threats, while civilians face repeated alerts and uncertainty over where strikes may land.

Mykolaiv region targeted by Shahed drones

Ukrainian sources reported that Russian forces attacked the Mykolaiv region with Shahed-type strike drones on the morning of May 12.

The attack showed that Russia continues to use unmanned aerial systems against different regions of Ukraine. Shahed drones have been used frequently during night attacks throughout the war.

These drones are widely recognized in Ukraine because of their distinctive engine sound. They are considered both a military threat and a psychological pressure tool, especially when used against populated areas, energy facilities and critical infrastructure.

Ukraine’s air defenses have intercepted many such attacks, but officials say every alert must still be taken seriously. A single drone or missile that reaches its target can cause deaths, injuries and major infrastructure damage.

Aircraft moved to remote airfields

One of the key points in Ihnat’s statement was the relocation of Russian aircraft to more distant airfields.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia sometimes moves strategic and tactical aircraft farther from the front or from potential Ukrainian strike zones to reduce the risk of losing valuable aviation assets.

Such deployments reflect the wider air-war dynamic between the two countries. Both sides closely monitor airfields, launch platforms, missile carriers and defense capabilities.

For Russia, remote airfields may offer greater protection. For Ukraine, however, such movements may also suggest that preparations for broader attacks are being distributed across a wider area.

Ukrainian officials therefore treat these movements as part of a broader threat picture rather than as isolated military activity.

Civilians urged to follow air alerts

The Ukrainian Armed Forces said there was no confirmed timing for a potential new attack, but stressed that the threat remains serious.

Civilians were urged to monitor air raid alerts, avoid relying on unverified information and move to safe areas when warnings are issued.

Authorities also advised families with children, elderly people and those with health conditions to prepare in advance. Knowing the nearest shelter, keeping phones charged, storing essential supplies and following official alert channels were listed among basic precautions.

The Air Force warning indicates that the air threat over Ukraine may intensify again in the coming days. Russian strategic aviation activity, aircraft redeployments and continued drone attacks show that the risk remains high across the country.

www.wisenewspress.com