Image: from Andrii Yurash X @AndriiYurash
By Open Chronicle with agencies
Russia launched one of its largest aerial attacks of the war overnight, firing hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles across Ukraine in a barrage that killed at least 17 people and injured more than 100, according to Ukrainian officials.
The capital, Kyiv, was among the hardest-hit locations, with residential buildings, medical facilities, and civilian infrastructure suffering extensive damage as Russia intensified its long-range campaign against Ukrainian cities.
According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian forces launched a total of 73 missiles and 656 drones during the assault. Air defense systems reportedly intercepted or suppressed 40 missiles and 602 drones, though many projectiles still reached their targets.
Russia conducted a horrific attack against Ukraine overnight with 656 drones and 73 missiles that killed at least 12, including children, and injured hundreds of civilians.
This is Kyiv pic.twitter.com/NcqTszQxHp
— Olga Nesterova (@onestpress) June 2, 2026
Deadly Strikes Across Multiple Regions
Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the most severe destruction occurred in Kyiv, Dnipro, and Kharkiv regions.
Authorities reported that six people were killed in Kyiv, while another 11 people, including a child, died in the Dnipro region. More than 100 others were injured nationwide as emergency services worked through the aftermath of the strikes.
In Kyiv, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said several civilian facilities were damaged, including four medical institutions.
One of the most devastating incidents occurred in the Podilskyi district of the capital, where a missile strike caused the collapse of a nine-story residential building.
Ruslan Stefanchuk, chairman of Ukraine’s parliament, warned that rescue teams feared additional victims could remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Emergency crews continued search-and-rescue operations throughout the day as authorities assessed the full scale of the destruction.
Zelenskyy Calls for Greater Air Defense Support
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the attack as further evidence that Russia intends to continue its campaign of missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities.
In a statement posted on social media, Zelenskyy argued that Europe must strengthen its collective air defense capabilities and renewed calls for additional Patriot missile systems and interceptor missiles from Ukraine’s international partners.
“Europe needs its own anti-ballistic defense so that this war can finally end,” Zelenskyy said, emphasizing the urgent need for additional protection against ballistic missile attacks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed those appeals, urging allies to increase military assistance, expand sanctions on Russia, and accelerate support for Ukraine’s integration into European institutions.
Sybiha described the overnight attack as a “horrific” act of terror and argued that stronger pressure on Moscow remains essential if diplomatic efforts are to succeed.
Russia Claims Military Targets Were Hit
Russia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed carrying out the strikes, stating that its forces used high-precision long-range weapons launched from air, land, and sea platforms, including hypersonic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
According to the ministry, the attacks targeted military-industrial facilities, fuel infrastructure, transportation hubs, and military bases located in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, and Sumy regions.
Russian officials claimed that all designated objectives were successfully struck.
Moscow also reported intercepting at least 148 Ukrainian drones overnight. As a precaution, Russian aviation authorities temporarily imposed flight restrictions at several airports, including facilities in Volgograd, Kaluga, Saratov, Krasnodar, and Penza.
Escalating Air War
The latest barrage highlights the continuing escalation of the aerial war between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides increasingly relying on long-range drones and missile strikes to target infrastructure far behind the front lines.
While Russia continues to conduct large-scale attacks against Ukrainian cities and strategic facilities, Ukraine has intensified its own drone campaign against military and energy targets inside Russian territory.
The overnight assault serves as another reminder that, despite ongoing international diplomatic efforts, the conflict remains far from resolution, with civilians continuing to bear the heaviest cost of the war.