Russian forces have launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles in one of the most extensive airstrikes since the start of the war, targeting various Ukrainian cities, including the capital. The attacks have left at least 13 dead and 111 injured, and have caused extensive damage to residential areas and vital infrastructure.
Publish dateTuesday 2 June 2026 - 13:55
Story Code : 356593
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Kyiv Independent newspaper, citing Ukrainian officials, said the cities of Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and other regions had been severely damaged as a result of the massive attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the capital had suffered the most damage.
At least four people were killed in the capital and 58 others, including two children, were injured, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Zelensky also said that 38 people remained hospitalized in Kyiv.
The city of Dnipro also suffered heavy casualties. According to local authorities, nine people, including a child, were killed in the city and 35 others were injured. Six people are still missing and search and rescue operations are ongoing in a partially collapsed four-story building.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia fired 73 cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as 656 attack drones in the attack. Of these, 40 missiles and 602 drones were intercepted or shot down.
Zelensky said that more than 500 state emergency services personnel were involved in relief and response operations across the country. Russian strikes also targeted energy infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast, critical infrastructure in Kharkiv city, and targets in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia and some other regions.
According to new reports, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced that the retaliatory strikes were carried out in response to previous Ukrainian attacks.
According to the ministry, Russian forces used long-range precision weapons, including hypersonic missiles and attack drones, and targeted military targets, defense industries, fuel and transport infrastructure, and military airfields in Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that “the objectives of the strike were achieved and all designated targets were hit.”
Moscow had previously warned that it would carry out “systematic and continuous” strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure, including decision-making centers.
New reports indicate that the bodies of a child born in 2023 and an aid worker who was on a mission were pulled from under the rubble during the attack on the city of Dnipro.
The total number of casualties in the city has increased to nine dead and 35 injured.
According to international media reports, a 24-story residential building was hit by a missile in the attack on Kiev and collapsed, with many people likely trapped under the rubble.
Thousands of residents of the capital have sought refuge in the city's metro system.
Poland has also put its fighter jets on alert to protect its airspace.
In response to the attack, Zelensky once again called for increased US support in providing Patriot missile defense systems, calling it "absolutely necessary."
According to experts, this massive attack should be assessed in the context of the escalation of mutual attacks between the two sides after four years of war.
Investigations show that Russia had practically planned a combined and coordinated operation, using 73 missiles and 656 drones in one night.
According to experts, the high number of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, including Zircon missiles, in the attack indicates Moscow’s attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems and hit defense and decision-making facilities.
Observers say that while Ukraine has managed to intercept more than 90 percent of the drones and more than half of the missiles, the missiles’ penetration of residential areas and critical infrastructure shows gaps in the country’s air defenses.
On the other hand, Russia has described the attacks as retaliatory and in response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets on Russian soil.
This round of tensions comes at a time when US-led peace efforts have virtually stalled due to the Trump administration’s focus on Middle East conflicts.
At least four people were killed in the capital and 58 others, including two children, were injured, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Zelensky also said that 38 people remained hospitalized in Kyiv.
The city of Dnipro also suffered heavy casualties. According to local authorities, nine people, including a child, were killed in the city and 35 others were injured. Six people are still missing and search and rescue operations are ongoing in a partially collapsed four-story building.
The Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia fired 73 cruise, ballistic and hypersonic missiles, as well as 656 attack drones in the attack. Of these, 40 missiles and 602 drones were intercepted or shot down.
Zelensky said that more than 500 state emergency services personnel were involved in relief and response operations across the country. Russian strikes also targeted energy infrastructure in Kharkiv Oblast, critical infrastructure in Kharkiv city, and targets in Kyiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhia and some other regions.
According to new reports, the Russian Defense Ministry has announced that the retaliatory strikes were carried out in response to previous Ukrainian attacks.
According to the ministry, Russian forces used long-range precision weapons, including hypersonic missiles and attack drones, and targeted military targets, defense industries, fuel and transport infrastructure, and military airfields in Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry stressed that “the objectives of the strike were achieved and all designated targets were hit.”
Moscow had previously warned that it would carry out “systematic and continuous” strikes against Ukrainian military infrastructure, including decision-making centers.
New reports indicate that the bodies of a child born in 2023 and an aid worker who was on a mission were pulled from under the rubble during the attack on the city of Dnipro.
The total number of casualties in the city has increased to nine dead and 35 injured.
According to international media reports, a 24-story residential building was hit by a missile in the attack on Kiev and collapsed, with many people likely trapped under the rubble.
Thousands of residents of the capital have sought refuge in the city's metro system.
Poland has also put its fighter jets on alert to protect its airspace.
In response to the attack, Zelensky once again called for increased US support in providing Patriot missile defense systems, calling it "absolutely necessary."
According to experts, this massive attack should be assessed in the context of the escalation of mutual attacks between the two sides after four years of war.
Investigations show that Russia had practically planned a combined and coordinated operation, using 73 missiles and 656 drones in one night.
According to experts, the high number of ballistic and hypersonic missiles, including Zircon missiles, in the attack indicates Moscow’s attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense systems and hit defense and decision-making facilities.
Observers say that while Ukraine has managed to intercept more than 90 percent of the drones and more than half of the missiles, the missiles’ penetration of residential areas and critical infrastructure shows gaps in the country’s air defenses.
On the other hand, Russia has described the attacks as retaliatory and in response to Ukrainian attacks on civilian targets on Russian soil.
This round of tensions comes at a time when US-led peace efforts have virtually stalled due to the Trump administration’s focus on Middle East conflicts.
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