Russia Launches Largest Aerial Assault on Kyiv Since Start of Invasion Leading to Significant Ukrainian Response:
Russia carried out the largest combined missile and drone assault since the start of the full-scale invasion across the nights of May 13 and 14, killing at least 24 people in Kyiv, including three children, and injuring dozens more. A residential apartment building partially collapsed under the strike, trapping residents inside. Russia launched more than 1,500 drones and 56 missiles at targets spanning 20 regions, including cities as far west as Ivano-Frankivsk and Rivne, which are rarely targeted. Zelenskyy stated Ukraine’s drone interception rate reached 94 percent while the missile interception rate was 73 percent. Ukrainian officials noted the attack was deliberately timed to coincide with President Trump’s visit to Beijing, accusing Russia of attempting to disrupt the overall political climate. In response, Zelenskyy instructed the military to prepare formats for retaliation and Ukraine subsequently carried out one of its largest long-range drone attacks since the start of the war on 16 and17 May, targeting Moscow, military-industrial sites and oil infrastructure, killing three and causing delays at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo and Vnukovo Airports.
We advise organizations with exposure in Ukraine and neighboring regions to review continuity plans, employee safety protocols, and infrastructure resilience measures. Companies should anticipate heightened risks of additional strikes, airspace disruptions, cyber activity, and energy-market volatility, while maintaining close coordination with local partners and monitoring regional security developments.
Drone attack on UAE Nuclear Plant Highlights Fragility of Gulf Ceasefire and Rising Escalation Risk:
A drone strike triggered a fire on the perimeter of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra region of the UAE on May 17, in what UAE authorities condemned as an “unprovoked terrorist attack”. Three drones entered UAE airspace from its western border; two were intercepted by air defenses, while one struck an electrical generator outside the inner perimeter of the plant. No injuries were reported and UAE regulators confirmed radiological safety levels were unaffected, with all four reactors continuing to operate normally. The targeting of the Barakah plant, the Arab world’s only nuclear power station, capable of supplying a quarter of UAE energy needs, represents a notable expansion in the targeting profile, which previously focused on hydrocarbon infrastructure. The UAE Foreign Ministry called the attack an “unacceptable act of aggression” and said it had the right to respond to such terrorist attacks. No group has claimed responsibility, however Iran and its allied Shiite proxies in Iraq have launched almost 3,000 drones and missiles against the UAE since the war began, aiming to increase the costs of the conflict to the United States and the global economy.
We advise businesses to prepare for immediate resumption of volatility in the region, including the disruption to shipping routes and rising energy costs. Organizations with regional exposure should review contingency plans, diversify supply routes where possible, and monitor developments closely.
Global Health Emergency Declared as Rare Strain of Ebola Spreads Across DRC and Uganda:
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in the DRC and Uganda to be a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on May 17, its highest level of alert short of a pandemic emergency. WHO has reported 350 suspected cases and 91 deaths across the DRC’s Ituri Province, with two confirmed cases also reported in Kampala, Uganda’s capital. At least six Americans have been exposed to the virus, with U.S. government officials reportedly looking to arrange transport for the small group of Americans in the DRC to a safe quarantine location. The outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, a rare variant with no vaccines or treatments. The outbreak is unfolding against the backdrop of an active security crisis in Ituri Province, where ongoing militia clashes have significantly complicated access for response teams. The WHO urged cross-border screening between DRC and Uganda and called on neighboring countries to enhance surveillance and preparedness. Rwanda has tightened border screening as a precautionary measure, while Nigerian officials are closely monitoring the situation. U.S. officials have issued a Level Four travel advisory, warning against travel to the DRC.
We advise organizations with operations in Eastern and Central Africa to to prepare for potential disruption from infectious disease exposure events, including rapid evacuation requirements, quarantine measures, and evolving travel restrictions. Organizations should also prepare for potential disruption to regional logistics and supply chains as the outbreak response scales up.
