Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least six civilians and injured at least 49, including a teenage boy, over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 18.

Russian forces launched 58 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys against Ukraine overnight, targeting mainly the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the Air Force said.

Ukrainian defenses shot down 12 drones, while 18 disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian drone attack against a village in the Snovsk community on June 17 injured a 68-year-old woman, Governor Viacheslav Chaus reported.

A Russian attack against Nikopol in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on June 17 killed a 63-year-old man, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. Two more people were injured, and an educational institution and houses were damaged.

Russian attacks across Donetsk Oblast killed a civilian in Myrnohrad and injured eight others in the region, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.

In Kharkiv Oblast, three people were injured in Russian attacks, including a 69-year-old woman and a 15-year-old boy in Izium and a 52-year-old man in Ripky, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast killed two people and injured 34, according to the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

In Sumy Oblast, one person was killed and another injured in a Russian drone attack against the Bilopillia community, and another man was killed during an air strike against the Yunakivka community, the regional administration reported.

Russia launched missile and drone attacks against Zaporizhzhia, damaging multiple residential and non-residential buildings but inflicting no casualties, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

‘He said he wasn’t going anywhere’ — Survivors search for missing following Russia’s deadliest attack on Kyiv this year

Sitting a few meters from the rubble of what used to be a nondescript nine-story residential building in Kyiv, Lilia rises to her feet every time another pile of debris is cleared from the site targeted by Russia during a mass overnight attack on June 17. “We are waiting (as

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

At least six civilians were killed and 18 others wounded in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, regional authorities reported on June 16.

Russia launched 138 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones, Ukraine's Air Force said. Air defenses intercepted 125 drones, while another 41 dropped off radars — likely used as decoys to overload Ukrainian systems.

The assault was repelled using aviation, electronic warfare units, mobile fire groups, and anti-aircraft missile systems.

Donetsk Oblast saw the deadliest attacks, with six civilians killed — three in Bagatyr, two in Pokrovsk, and one in Kostyantynivka — and four more injured, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. The region remains one of the most heavily targeted areas amid ongoing Russian offensive operations.

In Kherson Oblast, seven people were injured after Russian forces struck critical infrastructure and residential neighborhoods, damaging eight houses, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Three women aged 71, 62, and 27 were wounded in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov. The oblast has been under intensifying Russian aerial and artillery attacks in recent weeks.

Air defenses were active over Kyiv and surrounding areas, where three people were injured in the capital and region. Authorities said drone fragments fell in residential zones.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 46-year-old man was injured as Russian troops carried out 426 strikes on 14 settlements, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

The latest strikes come as Russia continues to escalate its aerial campaign and reject calls for a ceasefire. Ukrainian officials have repeatedly urged Western partners to bolster air defense capabilities as drone and missile attacks persist.

‘Russians lie about everything’ — Ukraine hits out at Kremlin claims after yet another drone strike on Kyiv

“This is a deliberate tactic of terror,” Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

In the early hours of 14 June, Russian forces launched a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine, deploying 58 Shahed-type drones, the Ukrainian Air Force reported. Air defenses neutralized 43 of them, including 23 shot down by fire and 20 suppressed or lost from radar through electronic warfare. Hits were recorded in nine locations, and drone debris fell in at least five. The Russian drones injured three people in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, while other attack hurt more people in Donetsk and Kherson oblast, according to local authorities.

Zaporizhzhia hit hardest in drone assault: civilians injured, fires reported

According to the Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration, 14 Shahed drones targeted Zaporizhzhia. The strikes hit residential buildings, a public transport stop, and a store. A humanitarian aid warehouse was destroyed.

NGO head Oleksandr Belyuha told Suspilne,

“This is our main warehouse. We’ve been helping people for three years. We provided humanitarian aid: food, hygiene products. Now everything is destroyed.”

Emergency services responded to fires that broke out in vehicles, multiple buildings, and the warehouse. Over ten cars burned in a parking area. At least 15 apartment blocks, one-family homes, and non-residential buildings were damaged.

Drone attack damages reported in Kharkiv Oblast

In Izium, Kharkiv Oblast, Russian drones caused four direct hits overnight on 14 June. The City Military Administration reported shattered windows, blown-off doors, and damage to garages in both residential and administrative structures.

However, Kharkiv Oblast authorities confirmed that there were no injuries over the past 24 hours despite attacks on five settlements. The region came under varied weaponry, including six KAB guided bombs, one FAB-1500 bomb, four Shahed-136 drones (which the oblast administration, for some reason, persistently calls by their Russian designation, Geran-2), and one FPV drone.

Putin counting on US fatigue to win what his army cannot, WP op-ed argues

Sumy Oblast suffers intense shelling with no casualties

Russian forces struck Sumy Oblast nearly 70 times between the mornings of 13 and 14 June, according to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration. The attacks targeted 21 settlements in nine communities. Most occurred in Sumy Raion. Weapons included around 30 drone-dropped VOG grenades and almost 10 air-dropped KAB bombs.

Two households were damaged in a strike on Pishchane, as confirmed by local official Mykola Sachenko. No casualties were reported.

WSJ: Russia wants the West to believe it’s winning in Ukraine

Five injured in Kherson Oblast as attacks continue

Various Russian attacks targeted Kherson Oblast, with 23 under fire in the past 24 hours. Oblast head Oleksandr Prokudin reported on 14 June that five people were injured. Airstrikes and artillery fire damaged an apartment building, six one-family homes, a gas station, a gas pipeline, a garage, and vehicles.

Russians kill one civilian, injure two others in Donetsk Oblast

According to Donetsk Oblast authorities, Russian strikes resulted in one death and two injuries on 13 June.

Overnight on 12 June, Russia again targeted Ukraine with long-range explosive drones. Although the number of drones dropped significantly—from over 400 in recent days to 63 last night—the attack still caused damage to civilian infrastructure and injured civilians.

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched the 63 drones—including Shahed-type explosive drones and decoy UAVs—against Ukraine from directions including Russia’s Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, and the Russian-occupied Chauda in Ukraine’s Crimea. The report says 49 drones were neutralized, with 28 shot down and 21 suppressed or lost via electronic warfare systems. Despite these defenses, drones hit at least seven locations, with debris falling in four others, according to the Air Force.

The Air Force’s data suggest that 14 Russian drones may have reached their intended targets.

Kharkiv city’s residential areas targeted

In Kharkiv, Russian drones hit multiple areas, including a high-rise residential building and a nearby fitness club in the Saltiivskyi district, as reported by Suspilne and confirmed by Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

The 24-story building suffered damage, with three vehicles catching fire due to drone debris crash.

Local resident Volodymyr told Suspilne,

“The house shook, plaster fell from the ceiling, and my windows and balconies were blown out.”

Drone strikes also targeted Shevchenkivskyi and Slobidskyi districts of Kharkiv city.

Three civilians killed and nine children wounded as Russia hits residential areas in Kharkiv

Wider damage across Kharkiv Oblast

According to Kharkiv Oblast Head Oleh Syniehubov, 16 people were injured in the region over the past 24 hours, including four children aged 2, 12, 16, and 17. 

Weapons used included two unguided air rockets, six KAB guided bombs, and over 31 Shaheds, and five drones of other types, according to Syniehubov.

Strikes in Odesa and Donetsk oblasts

In Odesa Oblast, drones hit the Izmail district and damaged several multi-story residential buildings and a reed-processing enterprise in the Vylkove community. No casualties were reported, but civilian infrastructure was affected, according to Oblast Head Oleh Kiper.

Meanwhile, Donetsk Oblast Administration reported two civilians killed in Raiiske and Toretske and six others wounded over the past 24 hours. The report did not specify whether Russian drone strikes or artillery shelling caused the casualties.

The death toll of a Russian attack on the northeastern city of Kharkiv on June 7 has risen to five, as two more bodies were found in the rubble, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on June 12.

The State Emergency Service reported the discovery of the fourth victim earlier in the day, adding that search and rescue operations are ongoing as more people may be under the rubble.

Russia attacked Kharkiv with drones, missiles, and KAB bombs overnight on June 7, damaging industrial buildings in the Kyivskyi district, causing structural collapses and large-scale fires. Authorities initially reported three people killed and 19 injured in the attack.

Later the same day, Russia again attacked the city with KAB bombs, killing two more people and injuring 18.

Recent weeks saw Moscow's forces intensify attacks against Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city that lies a little over 20 kilometers (around 15 miles) south of the Russian border. A Russian drone attack against the city overnight on June 12 injured at least 15 people, including children.

The strikes take place as Kyiv warns of Russia's mounting ground assaults along Ukraine's northeastern border.

‘Juicy target’ — Ukraine says it struck Russian electronics plant in Moscow Oblast

The facility assembles circuit boards and electronics for the Russian military-industrial complex, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A Russian drone attack on Kharkiv overnight on June 12 injured 15 people, including at least four children, authorities reported.

Russia carried out 11 strikes on the city, a 12th drone strike did not detonate, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said in a post to Telegram.

"Residential areas, educational institutions, kindergartens, and infrastructure were hit by shelling. Dozens of cars were damaged, windows in schools and houses were broken," he said.

Just a day prior, on June 11, a Russian mass drone attack on Kharkiv killed three people and injured at least 64 others, including nine children.

"An unexploded UAV was discovered on the roof of a warehouse," regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Several fires broke out throughout the city as a result of the Russian drone attack.

"Civilian cars caught fire after a (drone) hit a residential high-rise building. The facade of the high-rise building was also damaged," Syniehubov reported.

The grounds of an educational institution were hit in the Shevchenkivskyi district, causing a fire to break out, Syniehubov said.

Russia regularly strikes civilian infrastructure as it continues to wage its war against Ukraine.

On June 10, Russia conducted drone and missile attacks on Kyiv and Odesa. Three were killed and 12 were injured.

Ukraine bracing for ‘painful’ reduction in US military aid after Hegseth announces cuts

Editor’s note: For security reasons, the real names of the soldiers mentioned in this story have not been used. A reduction in U.S. military aid to Ukraine would be “painful” and could have potentially “dire consequences” for the global order, Ukrainian lawmakers and soldiers have told the Kyiv Independent.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia attacked homes and apartment buildings in Kharkiv with drones overnight on June 11, killing at least three people and injuring 64 others, including nine children, authorities reported.

The attack struck a five-story residential building in the city's Slobidskyi district, leaving 15 apartments in flames, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Several homes in the Osnovyanskyi district were also hit.

The large-scale attack also struck a trolleybus depot in the city, several vehicles, playgrounds, and local businesses, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

Terekhov said that nine people have been hospitalized as a result of the attack, including a 2-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy. Nine children were injured in total, the Prosecutor General's Office said.

Earlier in the night, Terekhov warned residents that a "massive enemy drone attack" was targeting Kharkiv. He later reported that Russia carried out 17 drone strikes in the city.

"Every new day now brings new vile Russian attacks, and almost every strike is telling," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X.

"And we must not be afraid or postpone new decisions that could make things more difficult for Russia... And this depends primarily on the United States and other world leaders."

Russia has pounded the city of Kharkiv with relentless aerial attacks in recent days.

A series of attacks with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs on June 7 left four dead and around 40 injured, as Russia struck civilian targets in the city throughout the night and again in the afternoon.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the "brutal strike" and urged the U.S. to allow Ukraine to purchase urgently needed air defense systems.

Already a frequent target of Russian strikes due to its proximity to the front lines, Kharkiv has also come under fire during Moscow's recent record-breaking attacks against cities across Ukraine.

Zelensky said on June 10 that Russia has been steadily increasing the number of weapons it launches at Ukraine in its mass overnight assaults.

Rescue workers discovered a body on 10 June under the debris of a Kharkiv enterprise destroyed in Russia’s deadly overnight attack on 7 June. The search for five more missing workers continues.

One body recovered, five more feared buried

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov announced the discovery via Telegram on 10 June.

“During rescue work at the enterprise shelled on 7 June, a body was found. The process of its recovery is ongoing,” Terekhov wrote.

He added that rescue operations are being conducted around the clock, and according to available data, up to five individuals may still be trapped under the rubble.

Kharkiv endures most extensive attack since full-scale invasion began. Three civilians killed, dozens injured

Enterprise struck in powerful overnight air assault days ago

The enterprise, located in Kharkiv’s Kyivskyi District, was hit during what Terekhov described as the “most powerful attack” on the city since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

The assault began at approximately 03:00 a.m. on 7 June and included over 40 explosions. Russian forces used more than 50 Shahed explosive drones, four guided bombs (KABs), and one missile, according to Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office head Spartak Borysenko.

A large fire erupted at the site, and initial reports said six workers might be blocked under the rubble. Five of them—three women and two men—were confirmed injured.

Injured teen dies week after Russian attack on Sumy

Earlier toll from the 7 June attack

The overnight Russian assault on Kharkiv killed three civilians and injured 21 others, including a one-and-a-half-month-old infant and a 14-year-old girl. Later that evening, Russian forces attacked again with guided bombs, one of which hit the children’s railway, killing two and injuring over 40 people.

Russian missile killed young couple planning marriage. They lived on 8th floor —their bodies found in basement after collapse

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least seven civilians and injured at least 34 over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 10.

Russia launched 315 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys against Ukraine overnight, as well as two North Korean KN-23 ballistic missiles and five Iskander-K cruise missiles, primarily targeting Kyiv, the Air Force reported.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down all seven missiles and 213 attack drones. According to the statement, 64 drones disappeared from radars or were intercepted by electronic warfare systems.

At least four people were injured during the overnight attack on Kyiv, and fires broke out in multiple districts of the capital, Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported. The strike marked one of the heaviest attacks against Ukraine's capital city throughout the full-scale war.

A drone attack on Odesa killed two men and injured eight other people, four of whom were hospitalized and are in moderate condition, Governor Oleh Kiper said. Medical facilities, including a maternity hospital, were damaged in the southern city.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian drone and artillery attacks against the Nikopol district killed one person and injured another on June 9, and wounded two other men overnight on June 10, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

In the Synelnykove district of the same region, Russian drone attacks set fire to a cultural center, "effectively destroying" it, the governor added.

Russian attacks across Donetsk Oblast killed three people in Yarova, Pokrovsk, and Myrnohrad, and injured eight others, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

Russia attacked eight settlements in Kharkiv Oblast with missiles, bombs, and drones, injuring a man in Kupiansk and another in Derhachi, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

In Kherson Oblast, one person was killed and eight injured during Russian attacks, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Five high-rise buildings and 15 houses were damaged.

An elderly woman was injured during a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Russian missile and drone barrage hits Kyiv, Odesa, killing 2 and injuring 12, damaging maternity hospital

In the early hours of June 10, Kyiv and Odesa came under another mass Russian attack, involving ballistic missiles and drones. Explosions were heard across the capital as air defense systems engaged the targets.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 49 explosive Shahed drones, decoy drones, a cruise missile, and two guided missiles overnight on 8 June, with Ukrainian defenses neutralizing 40 of the drones.

According to the Air Force, the attack was countered by air defense missile units, mobile fire groups, and electronic warfare teams from both the Air Force and broader Defense Forces.

As of 09:00, 40 Shahed drones and other types of unmanned aerial vehicles were neutralized over the east, south, north, and center of Ukraine. Among these, 22 were destroyed by direct fire, while another 18 were either jammed or lost on radars with no further consequences.

Reuters: US expects another multi-pronged Russian strike after Ukraine’s Spiderweb drone attack

The Air Force’s data suggest that all three missiles and at least nine drones may have reached their intended targets. 

Key targets: Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts

The Air Force identified Kharkiv Oblast and Donetsk Oblast as the main directions of the overnight Russian assault. Strikes were recorded at five locations.

While no direct damage or casualties from the latest attack were cited, regional reports provided updates on the previous day’s strikes. In Kharkiv Oblast, Head of the Oblast Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov stated that the city of Kharkiv and nine other settlements came under heavy Russian fire during 7 June.

Previous day’s toll: Civilians killed and injured

According to Syniehubov, the earlier attack left three civilians dead and 23 injured. Two of the fatalities occurred in Kharkiv, where 18 people were wounded. In the village of Staryi Saltiv, two women aged 46 and 53 and a 30-year-old man were injured. In Kupiansk, a 44-year-old man sustained injuries. In Kozacha Lopan, a 60-year-old man was killed, and another man aged 47 was injured.

Kharkiv endures most extensive attack since full-scale invasion began. Three civilians killed, dozens injured

Syniehubov detailed that Russian forces had used a wide variety of weapons in Kharkiv Oblast during the day, including one Kh-59 missile, nine guided aerial bombs (KABs), 64 Shahed drones, three “Geran-2” drones (the Iranian-designed Shahed-136 that Syniehubov, for some reason, refers to by its Russian designation), one Lancet drone, and two Molniya drones. In the city of Kharkiv itself, four KABs struck the Shevchenkivskyi and Kyivskyi districts.

Donetsk civilians also suffer casualties

Donetsk Oblast Head Vadym Filashkin reported that Russian attacks on 7 June killed four civilians: two in Yablunivka, one in Kostiantynivka, and one in Siversk. Another nine people in the oblast were injured.

FPV drone strike in Zaporizhzhia sets home ablaze

Separately, in the frontline town of Prymorske in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a Russian FPV drone targeted a detached house, as reported by Oblast Head Ivan Fedorov on 8 June. The attack resulted in a fire that completely destroyed the building and left a 63-year-old man with shrapnel wounds. He was hospitalized and is receiving medical care.

At least 12 civilians were killed and 65 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past 24 hours, regional officials reported on June 8.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, Russian forces launched 49 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed drones, along with an Onyx anti-ship missile and two X-59/69 guided air-launched missiles.

Air defenses intercepted 40 drones, while another 18 dropped off radar — likely decoys intended to overwhelm Ukrainian systems. Strikes were reported in at least five regions.

Six civilians were killed and 44 injured in Kharkiv Oblast, including in the city of Kharkiv and nine surrounding settlements, according to Ukraine's National Police.

Among the victims were two children — a one-and-a-half-month-old infant and a 14-year-old girl — as well as two police officers and a State Emergency Service employee.

In Donetsk Oblast, Russian strikes killed four people — two in Yablunivka, one in Kostyantynivka, and one in Siversk — Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Nine more were injured in ongoing shelling across the front-line region.

In southern Ukraine, one civilian was killed and nine others injured in Kherson Oblast, where Russia struck residential areas and critical infrastructure, according to Governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, one man was killed when Russian forces dropped three guided aerial bombs late on June 7, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Two women were injured in Sumy Oblast early on June 8 when a strike drone hit the region. One of the victims is pregnant, local authorities reported.

One additional injury was recorded in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where Russia carried out fresh attacks on settlements, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

The attacks come as Moscow continues rejecting a complete ceasefire and escalates strikes targeting civilian areas across Ukraine.

Ukrainian drone attacks force airport shutdowns near Moscow, mayor says

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that 61 Ukrainian drones were launched between the evening of June 7 and the morning of June 8.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 7 that Russian forces continued to brutally bomb Kharkiv, targeting the city "throughout the day" with both drones and guided aerial bombs. Two people were killed and at least 18 injured following what Zelensky called  "a brutal strike on the city in broad daylight."

"These Russian strikes are not 'retaliation' but acts of destruction," the president added.

On June 6, U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to justify Russia's large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities launched the night before, in response to Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb. He said earlier that Russia's response to Ukraine's Operation Spiderweb is likely "not going to be pretty."

"They gave (Russian President Vladimir) Putin a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them last night," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

Zelensky stressed that Russia’s goal is the complete erasure of life in Ukraine and reiterated that in all occupied territories, Russia has shown its true intent — building only military infrastructure and looting anything of value. "In more than 11 years of war, Russia has brought only one new thing to our land — ruins and death," he said.

Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s urgent need for air defense and appealed specifically to the United States: "We still await a response to our proposal to purchase systems that can help. We need concrete signals, not words." He thanked European countries for their support and underlined the need for joint production of air defense systems and missiles, noting this is essential not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe.

He also renewed calls for increased international pressure, saying that "no form of pressure on Russia can be eased." Zelensky warned that Moscow continues to prepare for war and ignores every peace proposal: "They must be held accountable."

Reporting on recent military updates, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces destroyed three Russian Iskander missile launchers used to strike Ukrainian communities. He also confirmed the downing of a Su-35 fighter jet, damage to Russian helicopters, and new strikes against Russian military logistics and airfields. "Every complication for Russia matters for our defense," he said.

Ukraine refutes Russia’s claims of disrupting POW exchange

“If the Russian side is now backing away from what was promised in Istanbul, it raises serious questions about the reliability and capability of their negotiating team,” Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on June 7.

The Kyiv IndependentDaria Shulzhenko

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv with KAB guided bombs the evening of June 7, killing a woman and a man and injuring at least 18 people.

The bombing follows a night of deadly Russian strikes against the city. Russia launched drones, missiles, and guided bombs at Kharkiv overnight on June 7, killing at least three people and injuring 19, including two children.

Rescuers were still searching for the bodies of six victims believed to be trapped under the rubble on the afternoon of June 7, according to the regional prosecutor's office.

At around 5:30 p.m. local time, Mayor Ihor Terekhov warned that Kharkiv was again under attack from guided aerial bombs.

Russia launched four KAB bombs at central Kharkiv, targeting the city's Shevchenkivskyi and Kyivskyi districts, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported after the attack. One of the bombs hit the Children's Railway, a popular gathering place for families.  

A 30-year-old woman was killed in the attack, Syniehubov said. Another 19 people were injured, with three in serious condition. Ten victims have been hospitalized.

The woman who as killed was an employee of Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia), according to Oleksandr Pertsovskyi, board chair of Ukrzaliznytsia. Four other railway employees were among the injured.

The Children's Railway in Kharkiv was closed at the time of the attack, Pertsovskyi said. The opening had been canceled because of security risks.

"(T)he opening was canceled, so there were no students or visitors on site and they are safe! It's scary to imagine what would have happened otherwise," he wrote.

The attacks damaged two buildings and four cars at the Children's Railway, two homes, and a farm building, according to Syniehubov. Emergency responders are still at work on the scene.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called the bombing a "brutal" attack and offered his condolences to the victims, noting that Russian strikes "have been hitting our city of Kharkiv all day long."

Zelensky rejected the idea that Russia's bombardments are a "response" to Operation Spiderweb, Ukraine's daring mass drone strike that struck military aircraft at four Russian air bases on June 1. Russia's only aim is destruction, the president said.

"In more than 11 years of Russia’s war against Ukraine, they have brought only one new thing to our land, and this is really the most widespread Russian product — ruins and death."

The previous night, Russia struck civilian targets across Kharkiv, including an apartment building. The attack killed three and injured 19, including a 1-month-old baby. Extensive search-and-rescue operations were underway following the strike.

The attack on Kharkiv came the night after Russia launched a large-scale drone and missile attack across Ukraine on June 6. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed the strike was a response to Operation Spiderweb — despite Russia's history of mass aerial attacks on civilian targets throughout the full-scale war.

U.S. President Donald Trump echoed the narrative the day after the attack, saying the attack on military aircraft gave Russian President Vladimir Putin "a reason to go in and bomb the hell out of them."

Kharkiv Oblast in northeastern Ukraine suffers frequent Russian assaults due to its vulnerable front-line position. The city of Kharkiv has regularly come under fire, with Russian drones and missiles targeting residential buildings in densely populated neighborhoods.

Operation Spiderweb ‘gave Putin a reason to bomb the hell out of them,’ Trump says, following large-scale attacks on Ukrainian cities

U.S. President Donald Trump on June 6 appeared to justify Russia’s large-scale attack on Ukrainian cities launched the night before, in response to Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb.

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Six people are most likely trapped under the rubble of an industrial facility in Kharkiv that was hit by a Russian attack earlier in the day, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office reported on June 7.

The rescue operation was ongoing as of 1:45 p.m. on June 7, reads the report.

Contact with those trapped has been lost, the prosecutors added.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs overnight on June 7, killing at least three people and injuring 22, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

Syniehubov said that drones had struck civilian targets across the city, including a 9-story residential building, a local enterprise, a home, and other facilities.

Two children were injured in the attack, including a 1-month-old baby, Syniehubov said.

At least 40 explosions were recorded across the city amid the attack, local media reported. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the Osnovyanskyi and Kyiv districts of the city suffered strikes.

According to Terekhov, 48 Shahed drones, two missiles, and four guided aerial bombs were launched toward the city.

Located along the front line, Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks from across the border.

Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb; Ukraine targets Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’

Key developments on June 6: * Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb * Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’ ahead of drone, missile attack, General Staff says * Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says * Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Russia attacked Ukraine with 206 Shahed combat drones and decoys, as well as nine missiles, overnight on June 7,  Ukraine’s Air Force reported.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down six Kh-59/69 cruise missiles launched by Russian tactical aircraft from the occupied part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and one Iskander-K cruise missile launched from Russia’s Rostov region, according to the Air Force.

Ukraine also downed 87 Russian combat drones, while 80 drones were neutralized by electronic warfare systems or disappeared from radar, the Air Force said.

Russian airstrikes hit 10 undisclosed locations, while wreckage from downed aerial targets landed in seven more, the Air Force said.

Earlier in the day, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported that Russian forces attacked the city with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs overnight, killing at least three people and injuring 19.

Located along the front line, Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks from across the border.

According to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak, six missiles and 27 drones were also downed in his oblast, leaving two people injured in the regional capital.

The attack took place just a day after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, launching 452 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed kamikaze drones and 45 missiles of various types.

It killed four people, including first responders, and injured 80 across the country.

"A cynical Russian strike on ordinary cities. More than 400 drones, more than 40 missiles. ... We need to put pressure on Russia to (accept a ceasefire) and to stop the strikes," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb; Ukraine targets Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’

Key developments on June 6: * Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb * Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’ ahead of drone, missile attack, General Staff says * Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says * Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian forces attacked Kharkiv with drones, missiles, and KAB guided bombs overnight on June 7, killing at least three people and injuring 19, officials said.

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov said that drones had struck civilian targets across the city, including a 9-story residential building, local enterprise, a home, and other facilities.

Emergency crews are currently on-scene, searching for additional victims stuck underneath the rubble.

Two children were injured in the attack, including a 1-month-old baby, Syniehubov said.

At least 40 explosions were recorded across the city amid the attack, local media reported. Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported that the Osnovyanskyi and Kyiv districts of the city suffered strikes.

According to Terekhov, 48 Shahed drones, two missiles, and four guided aerial bombs were launched toward the city.

The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear, and no information was provided on the status of the injured victims.

Located along the front line, Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks from across the border.

Overnight on June 5, Russian missile and drone attacks on Kharkiv injured 17 people, including four children.

Ukraine war latest: Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb; Ukraine targets Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’

Key developments on June 6: * Russia hits Ukraine with large-scale attack days after Operation Spiderweb * Ukraine strikes Russian air bases in ‘preemptive strike’ ahead of drone, missile attack, General Staff says * Ukrainian drone attack destroys helicopter at Russian airfield in Bryansk, media says * Russia plans to occupy Ukraine east of

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

At least eight civilians were killed and 46 others wounded in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 5.

According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russia launched 103 drones overnight, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones and one Iskander-M ballistic missile.

Air defenses intercepted 74 drones, while another 46 dropped off radars — likely used as decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian systems. The attack was repelled using aviation, electronic warfare units, mobile fire groups, and anti-aircraft missile systems.

Chernihiv Oblast suffered the deadliest strike of the day, where five people were killed and six others wounded after Russian drones struck residential areas in the city of Pryluky, Governor Viacheslav Chaus reported.

In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed in Rodynske and five more injured across the region, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. The region remains a primary target of Russian artillery and air strikes amid ongoing ground assaults.

Kharkiv Oblast recorded 20 injuries from Russian attacks, including four children in the city of Kharkiv — a 7-year-old boy, a 9-year-old girl, and two 13-year-old girls — Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. In Izium, a 38-year-old man was injured by the explosion of an unidentified object.

In Kherson Oblast, two people were killed and 10 others wounded, with Russia targeting residential neighborhoods and social infrastructure, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Sumy Oblast, two civilians were wounded after Russian forces used drones and KAB guided bombs to strike civilian areas, the regional Military Administration said.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, Russia hit a civilian minibus with a first-person-view (FPV) drone, injuring a 70-year-old man, Governor Vitalii Kim said.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, two people were wounded as Russian troops carried out 428 strikes on 14 settlements over the past 24 hours, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

Kyiv has consistently urged Moscow to accept a Western-backed 30-day ceasefire proposal, which Ukrainian officials see as a prerequisite for broader peace talks. The Kremlin has rejected the proposal thus far.

Putin rejects Zelensky’s call for peace talks, accuses Ukraine of deadly bridge attack in Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4 accused Ukraine of being governed by a terrorist regime that deliberately targets civilians and claimed it is continuing to lose the war. He rejected the possibility of holding talks.

The Kyiv IndependentOlena Goncharova

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russian missile and drone attacks on the city of Kharkiv overnight on June 5 injured 17 people, including four children, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

At least two high-rise buildings in the Slobodsky district of the city were struck by attack drones, Syniehubov said.

Two 13-year-old girls were injured in the attack, as well as a pregnant woman. A 93-year-old woman also sustained injuries. No information was provided on the extent of the injuries sustained by victims.

The full extent of the damage was not immediately clear as rescue workers continue to work on-scene.

Several vehicles were also damaged in the attack, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov.

Russia has launched repeated large-scale aerial assaults against Ukraine in recent days. On the night of June 1, Russia launched its largest swarm of attack drones since the start of the full-scale invasion, topping out at 472 total units at once.

On June 2, Russian drone and missile attacks on Kharkiv injured six people, including a child.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 4 that Russia launched approximately 48,600 aerial attacks since the start of 2025.

Kharkiv Oblast in northeastern Ukraine is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks. Russia has frequently attacked densely populated neighborhoods in the city of Kharkiv, hitting residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

Russia launches over 48,000 aerial attacks on Ukraine in 6 months, Zelensky says

Zelensky said on social media that Russia launched nearly 27,700 aerial bombs, 11,200 Shahed drones, approximately 9,000 other types of attack drones, and over 700 missiles at Ukraine in 2025.

The Kyiv IndependentDmytro Basmat

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least seven civilians and injured at least 52 over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 4.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 36 out of the 95 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force said.

Twenty-five drones disappeared from radars or were neutralized by electronic warfare systems, according to the statement.

Russia attacked the northeastern city of Sumy on June 3 with multiple-launch rocket systems, killing four people and injuring 28, the regional authorities said. Another civilian was injured during a drone attack elsewhere in Sumy Oblast.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian drone attack injured a 43-year-old man in his yard in the Novhorod-Siverskyi community, Governor Viacheslav Chaus said.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, an 87-year-old man was wounded when Russia attacked the Nikopol district with drones and artillery, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.

Russian attacks across Donetsk Oblast killed one person and injured two in the village of Serhiivka, said the regional governor, Vadym Filashkin. Five civilians were injured elsewhere in the region.

In Kharkiv Oblast, two people were killed and five injured as Russia launched missiles, drones, and bombs against Kharkiv and the region, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported.

Russian strikes in Kherson Oblast wounded eight people, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Three high-rise buildings and 10 houses were damaged.

Russia launched a Kinzhal missile against port infrastructure in Mykolaiv Oblast, authorities said. No casualties were reported.

A civilian was wounded during a heavy Russian drone attack against Odesa, Governor Oleh Kiper said. While most of the drones were shot down, residential buildings were damaged in the city.

‘There was blood on the asphalt’ — Russia strikes Ukraine’s Sumy during morning rush hour

Editor’s note: Cukr journalists contributed to the reporting of this article. The Ukrainian city of Sumy was once again the target of a devastating Russian missile strike on June 3, with four people killed and 28 others, including three children, injured. “The body of a man, killed in the attack,

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Today, there are a lot of interesting updates from the Kupiansk direction. Here, along the Oskil River near Kupiansk, Ukrainian special forces just carried out one of the boldest operations of the war.

In a surprise helicopter raid deep behind Russian lines, they landed undetected and tore through dugouts, safe houses, and staging zones, shattering Russian preparations before their offensive could even begin.

Hidden danger of Kharkiv Oblast town

The Russian forces in this area maintain a very thin bridgehead on the west bank of the Oskil River, where the control of the town of Dvorichna allows them to accumulate and deploy forces across the river.

Russians plan to use this bridgehead to tactically outflank Ukrainian forces in Kupiansk from the north, as well as to use it as a launching pad to link up with their other offensive in Kharkiv.

The Ukrainians understand that the Dvorichna bridgehead will be a key staging ground for the Russian summer offensive in Kharkiv, and know that they must act quickly to undermine any future Russian effort here.

The flaw in the river

The primary Russian weakness here is that their forces must cross the Oskil River by boat to reach their bridgehead on the western bank, which significantly complicates their logistics. This prevents them from deploying large numbers of heavy weapons such as anti-tank guided missiles or MANPADS.

The lack of man-portable air defenses makes the Russian bridgehead highly vulnerable to any aerial operations that the Ukrainians could conduct.

Subsequently, the Ukrainian special operations forces command devised a daring and unconventional plan, to conduct the first air assault operation in the war in over three years.

They planned to fly over Russian lines and deploy several teams of special forces in the rear of the enemy, where they would conduct raids, gather intelligence, and direct fire onto concealed Russian deployment points.

Ghosts in the trees

The Ukrainian Special Forces involved in this operation were deployed using American UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, flying low to avoid being detected by the Russians.

Penetrating deep behind Russian lines, the helicopters were able to land and dismount several dozen Ukrainian operators before returning safely to friendly territory.

Once on the ground, the Ukrainian troops moved quickly and with purpose. After reaching their targets, they launched a series of highly effective and deadly raids against Russian forces. They cleared forest belts and residential areas of enemy soldiers who had been preparing to cross the river.

Russian troops were caught completely off guard, never expecting an attack from their rear. Several dugouts were quickly encircled, and numerous Russian soldiers were captured in the confusion.

Taking full advantage of surprise and terrain, Ukrainian operators concealed themselves in forested areas, waiting for small Russian infantry groups that were either sent to find them, or were moving to new positions completely unaware.

These ambushes were swift and lethal, as the Ukrainians eliminated enemy soldiers at point-blank range using small arms, all while remaining undetected in the dense cover of the forest.

The escape corridor

The high level of coordination and preparation of the Ukrainian forces included several armored vehicles, meant to arrive near a designated exfil point to quickly evacuate the operators. This point was chosen carefully, as it had the least amount of frontline activity, and no Russian bridgehead, making it the safest route for the job.

The Ukrainians moved through the dense forests behind the Dvorichna bridgehead and avoided areas with larger concentrations of Russian soldiers.

The Ukrainian special operators, with intelligence gained from captured Russians, enabled the Ukrainian drone operators to identify large Russian strongholds standing in the way of the Ukrainian exfiltration.

Artillery crews and heavy drone bombers were deployed, leading to the decimation of these Russian troops.

This focused fire established a corridor for the Ukrainian special forces to safely traverse the forests and reach the western bank of the river, where MaxPro armored vehicles awaited to exfiltrate them back to safety.

Operators left behind: the shadow war begins

Overall, the Ukrainians achieved the impossible, carrying out the war’s first air assault operation in over three years, allowing them to strike deep into Russian-held territory, inflict serious losses, and gather critical intelligence.

Notably, it is highly likely that not all Ukrainian operators exfiltrated from behind Russian lines.

According to special forces doctrine, these operators will be able to gather intelligence, set up and train further resistance networks, and conduct a deadly guerrilla warfare with sabotage and liquidations of top Russian commanders.

Russia is going to go all-in this summer, and the Ukrainians are positioning themselves to take every advantage they can to repulse it.

In our daily frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.

In the early hours of 3 June 2025, Russian forces launched a massive drone assault on Ukraine, using 112 UAVs including Shahed explosive drones and decoys from various directions. The Ukrainian Air Force reported 75 drones were neutralized, while 11 locations were struck, causing civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in multiple oblasts, according to local authorities.

Later in the morning, Russia shelled Sumy with rockets, killing two civilians and injuring about 20 others, and targeted Mykolaiv with an air-launched ballistic missile:

Russia kills civilians in central Sumy with Tornado-S cluster munitions. “Hypersonic” Kinzhal hits near Mykolaiv (updated)

Odesa: five civilians injured, fires break out

According to the Odesa Oblast Military Administration and the regional prosecutor’s office, Russian drone strikes injured five civilians. One person was hospitalized in moderate condition, while others were treated at the scene. Fires erupted at multiple sites, including a major blaze at a food warehouse. Two cars burned down in a detached house area, and damage was reported to garages and residential buildings.

The State Emergency Service (DSNS) deployed 22 vehicles and 72 personnel, supported by three more units and 12 additional responders from the National Guard and local authorities. Air raid alerts were issued at 03:00, and explosions began around 03:32. According to Suspilne, Ukrainian air defense warned earlier that drone groups were advancing from the Black Sea toward Odesa Oblast.

Balakliia: one dead, one injured in drone strike

Overnight on 3 June, Russian drones struck Balakliia in Izium district, Kharkiv Oblast. Balakliia City Military Administration head Vitalii Karabanov reported several impacts in the town. A civilian was killed, and another person was injured.

Some strikes hit a civilian enterprise and open areas, causing wildfires. The DSNS later confirmed drone attacks on a postal terminal on the outskirts of Kharkiv, resulting in a fire that consumed two warehouse buildings and containers over a 3,000 m² area.

Postal company Nova Poshta, which operated the terminal, confirmed that part of its sorting facility was destroyed. The company stated:

We are contacting clients whose parcels were destroyed in the Russian attack regarding compensation.”

Chernihiv: four civilians injured, private and public buildings hit

Around 02:27, Russian drones hit Chernihiv. Chernihiv City Military Administration head Dmytro Bryzhynskyi reported that a Shahed drone struck a detached house, injuring two people — one critically. Later, the Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration confirmed four total casualties: two women and two men, all hospitalized with serious injuries.

A one-family home burned down, and a five-story residential building was damaged along with several other homes. Bryzhynskyi and regional head Viacheslav Chaus also reported damage to a school, multiple shops, a bus stop, and an industrial facility.

Sumy Oblast: guided bombs hit center of Khotin village

On 2 June, Russia launched three KAB guided bombs on the center of Khotin town in Sumy district. According to the Sumy Oblast Military Administration, there were no casualties, but significant damage was reported.

A medical facility, school, church, and about 20 detached houses were damaged in the attack.

Nationwide air assault

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia launched 112 Shahed-type and decoy drones overnight from Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Russia, and Chauda in occupied Crimea. The main axes of attack were Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Odesa, and Donetsk oblasts. Ukrainian air defenses — including aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, EW systems, UAV units, and mobile fire groups — were activated. Of the 75 drones neutralized, 60 were shot down and 15 suppressed or lost via EW.

The Air Force’s data suggests that at least 37 Russian drones may have reached their intended targets.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least seven civilians and injured 42 others over the past day, regional authorities said on June 3.

Ukrainian forces downed 60 out of the 112 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

Fifteen drones were intercepted by electronic warfare or disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.

Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense.

Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper said that Russian forces attacked Odesa with drones, injuring at least five people. The attack set a food warehouse on fire and damaged residential buildings and cars.

A Russian attack on the village of Kivsharivka in Kharkiv Oblast killed two women aged 62 and 64, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. A 31-year-old man was killed, and a 38-year-old man was injured in a Russian attack on Balakliia.

Another strike on the town of Kupiansk injured four women and a 59-year-old man, Syniehubov said.

Russian drone and missile attacks on Sumy Oblast injured four people, according to local authorities.

Russian first-person-view (FPV) drones struck a State Emergency Service building and service vehicles in the Stepnohirsk community in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, injuring 12 emergency workers, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.

Three people were killed in Kramatorsk and Yablunivka in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Two other people suffered injuries in the region over the past day.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 35 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. One person was killed, and 13 others, including a child, were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Operation Spiderweb — everything we know about Ukraine’s ‘audacious’ attack on Russia’s heavy bombers

Ukraine was jubilant on June 1 as news filtered through of a stunning drone attack targeting Russian heavy bombers, that simultaneously targeted four air bases, two of them thousands of miles inside Russia. “Enemy strategic bombers are burning en masse in Russia — this is the result of a special operation

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russian attacks across Ukraine killed at least nine civilians and injured at least 49, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on June 2.

The attacks come as Ukrainian and Russian officials are scheduled to hold a second round of peace talks in Istanbul later during the day. They also follow a mass Ukrainian drone strike that allegedly destroyed or damaged one-third of Russia's strategic aviation fleet on June 2.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 80 Shahed-type attack drones and decoys, as well as three Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles and one Iskander-K cruise missile, the Air Force reported.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 15 drones, while 37 were intercepted by electronic warfare systems or disappeared from radars, according to the statement.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Russian artillery and drone attacks against the Nikopol district injured three men aged 51, 68, and 72, all of whom were hospitalized, Governor Serhii Lysak reported. A medical facility, a fire department, and a shop were reportedly damaged.

Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast killed one person and injured three in Kostiantynivka, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin. Another civilian was injured by a Russian strike in Hryshyne.

Russia attacked Kharkiv Oblast heavily with drones, a ballistic missile, and other weaponry. Twelve people, including two children, were injured in the region, including six in Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

In Kherson Oblast, three people were killed and 19 injured, including two children, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported. Three high-rise buildings, seven houses, warehouses, and other properties were damaged.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, a 65-year-old man and a 60-year-old woman were hospitalized following a Russian drone attack, Governor Vitalii Kim reported.

Russian attacks across Zaporizhzhia Oblast killed five people and injured nine, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported. Russian forces launched missiles, aerial bombs, drones, and other weapons against the region.

In Chernihiv Oblast, a Russian attack started a large-scale fire on the premises of a production facility, the State Emergency Service said.

Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian drones strike over 40 Russian aircraft, damage 34% of strategic bombers

Key developments on May 31-June 1: * Ukrainian drone strikes hit more than 40 aircraft at key airfields, damage 34% of Russian strategic bombers * Russian soldiers surrender because ‘abuse in units is worse than captivity,’ Ukrainian military says * Russian military freight train blown up en route to Crimea, HUR says

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv overnight with drones and ballistic missiles, injuring at least six people, including a child, local authorities reported in the early hours of June 2.

Drone strikes on the city's Kholodnohirskyi district injured six people, including a 7-year-old boy, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported.

Two Russian ballistic missiles also targeted the Kyivskyi district, Terekhov said. One of the missiles struck a road "just a few dozen meters" from a local school. The other hit an area close to high-rise buildings, shattering windows and damaging facades.

"It is a miracle that there were no casualties," Terekhov said.

Several homes, a civilian enterprise, and vehicles were damaged in the attack, according to Terekhov.

Earlier in the day, President Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia may be preparing for another mass strike against Ukraine in the wake of Kyiv's successful operation against Russian military aircraft.

"Even before the start of this operation, we had intelligence about the preparation of another Russian massive strike," Zelensky said in his evening address.

"And it is very important for all our people not to ignore aerial alerts. Last night, there were almost 500 Russian drones, strike drones. Every week they increased the number of units per strike. Now they have also prepared Kalibr cruise missles from sea carriers."

Russia has launched repeated large-scale aerial assaults against Ukraine in recent days.

The city of Kharkiv and the surrounding region came under heavy attack the previous night during a mass Russian drone strike. Russia launched nearly 500 drones at Ukraine, shattering its previous record for the number of drones fired in a single night.

Kharkiv Oblast in northeastern Ukraine is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks. Russia has frequently attacked densely populated neighborhoods in the city of Kharkiv, hitting residential buildings and civilian infrastructure.

As Trump fails to sanction Moscow, few expect breakthrough during upcoming Russia-Ukraine talks

As Ukraine and Russia prepare for peace talks scheduled for June 2 in Istanbul, few observers expect a breakthrough. While the U.S. and Ukraine have pushed for an unconditional ceasefire, the Kremlin has rejected it. Instead, Moscow has regularly voiced maximalist demands that are unlikely to be accepted by

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Russia launched 479 aerial weapons, including seven missiles and hundreds of drones, on Ukraine overnight on 1 June 2025, marking the largest drone and attack since the full-scale invasion began, according to Ukraine’s Air Force. The drone attack injured four civilians, yet one of the missiles reportedly hit a military training facility, killing 12 soldiers and injuring dozens others.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that between 19:30 on 31 May and the early hours of 1 June, Russian forces attacked with 472 Shahed-type strike UAVs and decoy drones from directions  in Russia, including Millerovo, Shatalovo, Kursk, Oryol, Bryansk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Additionally, Russia launched three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Kursk and Voronezh oblasts and four cruise missiles — both air- and ground-launched — including Kh-101 and Iskander-K types.

Air defense forces responded using aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, drone units, and mobile fire groups.

As of 13:30, a total of 385 aerial threats were reportedly neutralized, including 210 Shahed-type UAVs and three Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles. Of those, 213 were shot down by kinetic means, while 172 were either jammed or disappeared from radar due to electronic warfare.

The air strikes targeted Kyiv Oblast, Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, Odesa Oblast, Donetsk Oblast, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Strikes caused impacts in 18 separate locations, Air Force says.

Following a record 355-drone attack, Russia launches 60 drones—Ukraine intercepts most

Civilian impact in Kyiv oblast, Zaporizhzhia, and Odesa

In Kyiv Oblast, local authorities reported that 15 Russian drones were shot down. Ten detached houses were damaged in Bila Tserkva district, but no casualties were reported.

In Zaporizhzhia, according to the National Police, seven Shahed drone strikes and one missile hit the city and surrounding area between 04:06 and 04:33. Three civilians — two women and a man — were injured and received medical aid. Private homes and critical infrastructure were damaged. Zaporizhzhia Mayor’s Office reported emergency services boarded up windows in 13 homes and two apartment buildings.

A Zaporizhzhia resident named Serhii said his home, built over 10 years, was significantly damaged, Suspilne reported. He said something struck about 10 meters away, but he and his family hid behind a masonry stove, which saved their lives.

The Zaporizhzhia regional prosecutor’s office opened an investigation into a war crime under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

In Odesa Oblast, Shahed drones struck Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi district. Odesa Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Kiper confirmed private homes and a vacation facility were damaged. A fire broke out but was extinguished by emergency workers. No injuries or deaths were reported.

Drone strikes across Kharkiv Oblast

According to Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Syniehubov, 13 drones struck Izium, Lozova, and Kupiansk districts.

A 45-year-old woman in Lozova suffered acute stress, the State Emergency Service reported. Local authorities reported impacts on a school and a critical infrastructure site.

In Balakliia, seven strikes hit, damaging a civilian residential area and a factory.

A warehouse fire occurred in Izium. In Velykyi Burluk, a strike caused a fire on the second floor of an administrative building, damaging windows and a car. Power lines were also hit in Bunakove, Lozova community.

Russia’s massive missile and drone assault kills at least 12 civilians, injures 52, between two prisoner swaps

Missile strike on Dnipropetrovsk: 12 killed, over 60 wounded

On 1 June, the Russian army launched a missile strike on a Ukrainian Ground Forces training unit in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to Ukraine’s Ground Forces command. As of 12:50, 12 servicemen were confirmed dead and over 60 wounded.

The Ground Forces stated:

“No formations or mass gatherings of personnel were taking place. After the air raid alert was announced, most of the personnel were in shelters.” 

Commander of Ukraine’s Ground Forces, General Mykhailo Drapatyi, announced his resignation:

“As commander, I failed to ensure full execution of my orders. I didn’t push hard enough, didn’t convince, didn’t change attitudes. That’s my responsibility.”

Ukrainian Ground Forces commander quits after training base attack kills 12 and injures 60 troops

Ground Forces spokesperson Vitalii Sarantsev told Suspilne the preliminary weapon used was an Iskander missile. He emphasized that any officials found guilty, regardless of past service, will be held accountable.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed seven people and injured 39 others over the past day, regional authorities said on May 30.

Ukrainian forces downed 26 out of the 90 drones, including Shahed-type attack drones, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

Thirty drones were intercepted by electronic warfare or disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.

Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense.

A Russian drone attack on the city of Kharkiv injured two women aged 61 and an 84-year-old woman, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. The attack also damaged 39 trolleybuses.

Nine more people, including two children, were injured in a Russian attack on the village of Vasyliv Khutir in Kharkiv Oblast, according to Syniehubov.

Russian attacks near Polohy and Vasylivka in Zaporizhzhia Oblast killed two people and injured five other people, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported.  

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Serhii Lysak said that Russian forces attacked the Nikopol district in the region, injuring a man and a woman aged 25 and 48.

One person was killed in Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Ten other people suffered injuries in the region over the past day.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 35 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. Four people were killed, and 11 others injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Ukraine war latest: Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow

* Russia reports 2nd consecutive day of Ukrainian drone attacks on Moscow, building damaged on the outskirts * Rubio, Lavrov discuss next round of Russia-Ukraine peace talks in Istanbul * ‘No one has seen it yet’ — Zelensky slams Russia for stalling on ceasefire memorandum ahead of Istanbul talks * Russia amassed enough troops to

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Editor's note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Nine were injured in Kharkiv overnight on May 30 amid a Russian drone attack on the city, local authorities reported.

"Specialized services are heading to the scene of the incidents," Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov said in a Telegram post.

Two 16-year-olds were injured, Syniehubov said, adding that residential buildings have been damaged in the drone attack.

Russia has intensified drone and missile attacks against Ukraine despite peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul on May 16.

The talks in Turkey were largely inconclusive. Russia reiterated maximalist demands that Ukraine hand over Crimea and eastern oblasts.

The two sides were able to agree to a 1,000-for-1,000 prisoner exchange, which was carried out between May 23 and 25.

Russian President Vladimir Putin refused President Volodymyr Zelensky's invitation to meet face-to-face in Istanbul. Instead, Russia sent a delegation of lower-level officials led by Putin's aide, Vladimir Medinsky.

Russia has refused a ceasefire and instead insisted it would provide Ukraine with a peace memorandum shortly after the May 16 talks. Ukraine and Russia are slated to hold another round of peace talks on June 2.

Meanwhile, Kyiv is still awaiting Russia's proposed ceasefire memorandum, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on May 28.

Kharkiv Oblast in Ukraine's northeast is a regular target of Russian missile, drone, and glide bomb attacks from across the border or Russian-occupied territories.

Russia has regularly targeted civilian infrastructure in aerial attacks against Ukraine since the start of its full-scale war in February 2022.

Infighting around EU rearmament undermines grand ambitions for European defense

Despite grand plans, the European Union’s hoped-for rearmament remains fully dependent on member nations stepping up their own defenses. In March, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced an 800-million-euro “Rearm Europe” plan to build out a defense architecture that has depended on the U.S. since the

The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killed at least one civilian and injured 46, including children, over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 28.

Russia launched five Iskander-M or KN-23 ballistic missiles against Ukraine overnight, as well as 88 Shahed-type attack drones and decoy drones, the Air Force said.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down 34 drones, while 37 were neutralized by electronic warfare systems or disappeared from radars. Eight hits were recorded across Ukraine, according to the Air Force.  

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two women aged 51 and 64 were injured during Russian artillery and drone attacks against the Nikopol district, Governor Serhii Lysak reported.

Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast injured eight civilians – four in Pokrovsk, two in Novovodiane, and one each in Sloviansk and Zarichne, according to Governor Vadym Filashkin.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian strikes killed an 85-year-old man and injured nine others, including a 4-year-old girl, Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. Over 70 houses were damaged, as well as 12 apartment buildings, a school, shops, warehouses, and more.

Thirteen people were injured in Russian attacks against Kherson Oblast, said the regional governor, Oleksandr Prokudin.

In Kirovohrad Oblast, at least three people were injured in a Russian aerial strike, Governor Andrii Raikovych reported. Seventy-six houses and a multi-story residential building were damaged. A fire broke out after an attack against an industrial enterprise in Svitlovodsk, the governor said.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, a 7-year-old girl was injured during a Russian drone attack, Governor Vitalii Kim said. Houses and a recreational facility were damaged in missile and drone attacks elsewhere in the region.

Nine people were injured in Russian attacks against Sumy Oblast, including a child, the regional military administration reported.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 17-year-old boy was injured during a Russian attack on the Polohy district, according to Governor Ivan Fedorov.

Sanctions on Russia are working, Ukraine just needs more

Sanctions on their own won’t end the war, but they are a crucial tool in the West’s efforts to pressure Putin.

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least two civilians and injured at least 19 others over the past day, regional authorities reported on May 27.

Russian forces launched 60 drones from the Russian cities of Kursk, Orel, Millerovo, and Primorsk-Akhtarsk, as well as from Russian-occupied Crimea, against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

Ukraine's air defense shot down 43 drones, while another eight disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement.

Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are often decoys that Russia launches alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine's air defense.

In Donetsk Oblast, one person was killed in the village of Rozkishne, while two others were injured in the town of Pokrovsk due to Russian attacks, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Sumy Oblast, a woman was killed and two other civilians suffered injuries in the Mykolaivka community, the local military administration reported.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 33 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, eight people were injured, including two children, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian strikes injured a 67-year-old man in the town of Kupiansk, as well as a 63-year-old man and an 83-year-old woman in the village of Myrne, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

In Mykolaiv Oblast, Russian forces attacked the Kutsurub community with FPV (first-person-view) drones, injuring an 80-year-old man and a 66-year-old woman, the local military administration reported.

In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a 54-year-old man suffered injuries in a Russian attack against the Synelnykove district, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.

In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 17-year-old boy was injured due to an FPV drone attack on the Polohy district, the local military administration reported.

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The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

In the early hours of 26 May, Russia launched what Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as the “largest drone attack since the start of the full-scale war.” A total of 355 explosive and decoy drones and 9 air-launched cruise missiles targeted Ukraine from various directions including Bryansk, Kursk, and occupied Crimea, according to the Air Force. The air assault targeted factories and residential areas in multiple cities, injuring a teenager in Odesa. Other Russian attacks killed four and injured at least 17 Ukrainian civilians, according to local authorities and Ukraine’s Emergency Service.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting all 9 Kh-101 missiles and neutralizing 288 drones, using a combination of aviation, air defense missile systems, electronic warfare, and mobile fire groups. Despite these efforts, drone impacts were recorded in five locations, and debris fell in ten areas.

Figures from the Air Force indicate that over 60 Russian drones may have reached their targets — marking a notably lower interception rate compared to previous attacks.

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Kharkiv Oblast: Explosions, fires, and casualties

According to Suspilne Kharkiv, 13 explosions were heard starting at 00:33 in Kharkiv. Kharkiv and its suburbs were under Russian drone attack, confirmed by Oleh Syniehubov, head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration (OVA). In Vasyshcheve near Kharkiv, a private enterprise caught fire after being hit by drones, as reported by the State Emergency Service.

While not attributing any casualties to the Shahed drone assault, Syniehubov stated that over the past 24 hours, other Russian strikes on six settlements in Kharkiv Oblast killed two women, 84 and 58, and injured a 60-year-old man and two women aged 76 and 68. 

Kyiv: Third night of aerial terror

According to Kyiv’s City Military Administration, Kyiv was attacked for the third consecutive night. A six-hour air raid saw damage in Dniprovskyi and Desnianskyi districts, including shattered windows in a residential building and drone fragments hitting a garage and a restaurant area.

Officials reported no injuries.

Russia’s massive missile and drone assault kills at least 12 civilians, injures 52, between two prisoner swaps

Odesa Oblast: Teenager injured, homes damaged

Odesa’s OVA and Emergency Service confirmed that drones caused the destruction of a detached home and fires in Velikodolynske. Several private homes, outbuildings, and vehicles were also damaged.

A 14-year-old boy was injured, suffering leg wounds, and received on-site medical treatment.

Khmelnytskyi Oblast: Missiles and drones hit Starokostiantyniv area

In the Starokostiantyniv community, hosting one of Ukraine’s airbases, Russia used a combined missile and drone strike, according to Khmelnytskyi Oblast head Serhii Tiurin.

Though no civilians were hurt, four enterprises suffered damage to warehouses, workshops, and admin buildings, while 18 residential homes, one outbuilding, and a power line were damaged.

Zaporizhzhia: Two injured in Yurkyvka

Zaporizhzhia’s Yurkyvka village was shelled by Russian forces on 26 May, said oblast head Ivan Fedorov. A 60-year-old woman and a 52-year-old man were injured and received medical assistance. A detached house was destroyed in the attack.

Sumy: One dead, one wounded in artillery strike

Russian artillery hit Kindrativka in Sumy’s Khotin community, killing a 48-year-old man and injuring a 52-year-old civilian, who was treated at the scene, the Oblast Administration reported.

Donetsk Oblast: Six civilians injured

On 25 May, six civilians were injured in Donetsk Oblast due to Russian attacks, regional officials confirmed.

Russia attacks Ukraine with record 273 drones, leaving one dead, multiple injured in Kyiv Oblast

Kherson: Civilian deaths and injuries

Between the mornings of 25 and 26 May, one person was killed and four others wounded in Kherson Oblast, according to its administration.

At around 10:00 this morning, a drone strike in Kherson’s Korabelnyi district injured a 46-year-old woman, who suffered a blast injury and concussion, and was treated as an outpatient.

Poland scrambles jets as precaution

Due to Russian air activity over Ukraine, Poland’s Armed Forces deployed Polish and allied aircraft, warning of increased noise over southeastern Poland.

The operational command called it the second consecutive “very intense night” for their air defense systems.

Zelenskyy: Political message, not military strategy

President Zelenskyy commented that the sheer scale of the Russian air attack had “no military logic”, arguing it was instead a political signal.

“Only the feeling of total impunity can allow Russia to strike like this,” he said.

The Ukrainian President called on international partners to increase sanctions and block Russian oil trade and financial flows to deprive Moscow of its war resources.

“This is how Putin shows his contempt for a world that puts more effort into “dialogue” with him than into applying pressure. Like any criminal, Russia can only be restrained by force. Only through strength — the strength of the United States, the strength of Europe, the strength of all nations that value life — can these attacks be fully stopped and real peace achieved,” Zelenskyy said.

Russian forces struck the Ukrainian city of Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast with two powerful aerial bombs on the morning of 25 May, killing two civilians and injuring three more, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office reported.

According to the report, the first strike occurred at approximately 09:26, when a FAB-500 air-dropped bomb hit a one-family home residential area. The explosion killed two women, aged 84 and 57. A 60-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman were injured. A 68-year-old woman suffered an acute stress reaction.

More than 20 homes and outbuildings were either destroyed or damaged in the initial attack.

Russia’s massive missile and drone assault kills at least 12 civilians, injures 52, between two prisoner swaps

Second strike used FAB-1500 bomb with UMPK

The Prosecutor’s Office says roughly 30 minutes after the first explosion, a second airstrike was launched on the same city. Preliminary reports indicate that Russian forces used a FAB-1500 bomb equipped with a Universal Gliding and Correction Module (UMPK), a guidance kit that increases accuracy and allows bombs to be dropped from a distance. 

This second strike damaged at least 15 additional residential buildings. No further casualties were reported in the follow-up attack.

Prosecutors launch war crimes investigations

The Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor’s Office has initiated pre-trial investigations into suspected war crimes under Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. Prosecutors, in coordination with police investigators, are conducting procedural actions to document and investigate the strikes carried out by Russian military personnel.