“We don’t know if an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin.” Nuclear conflict risk between Iran and Israel threatens not only the Middle East but also Ukraine, says former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Volodymyr Ohryzko, Radio NV reports. 

The West might shift its focus to a new crisis, while Russia could financially benefit from rising oil prices.

“If, after all these events, Iran reduces its support to Russia, that would be in our interests,” the diplomat notes.

At the same time, he warned that Israel’s actions might have a dangerous effect: “Who has power is right, and Iran will certainly respond to that.”

Ohryzko emphasizes that Tehran has already declared a strong response, using not only drones but also cruise and ballistic missiles.

“We don’t know what else is stored in Iran’s other sites, whether there are already ready nuclear warheads,” he adds. 

According to the expert, Israel’s possession of nuclear weapons is almost an objective reality. Therefore, the risk of nuclear escalation becomes not hypothetical but an extremely realistic scenario.

“So, we don’t know if at some point an exchange of nuclear strikes will begin, and that would be not just dangerous, but horrific,” Ohryzko stresses.

Besides the military threat, there is another consequence — rising energy prices.

“There are reports that oil prices jumped by 12%. That means Russia will profit from this,” the former minister notes. 

In such a situation, Ukraine risks losing part of the West’s attention while simultaneously facing the economic strengthening of its main enemy.

Overnight on 6 June, Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, using 407 drones, 38 cruise missiles, and six ballistic missiles, according to preliminary data from the Ukrainian Air Force. Later, the Air Force published the updated data.

In a televised appearance, Yuri Ihnat, head of communications for the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that the attack included various types of aerial threats, according to Liga.

“A very large number of air attack weapons are flying. Each week we are essentially breaking records for the number of assets used. Today there were ballistic and cruise missiles, and a large number of strike UAVs and drone imitators,” Ihnat said.

Ihnat emphasized the figures are early estimates and have not been formally released by the Air Force yet due to the need for thorough verification.

Russian missiles, drones target Kyiv, Ternopil, Lutsk in one of Moscow’s largest air assaults, civilians killed and injured (updates)

Air Force preliminary assessments report the destruction of up to 30 missiles through air defense measures. Additionally, up to 200 strike drones were intercepted. A further 167 drones are currently classified as “radar lost” or disappeared from radars during the operation.

Attack route and defense deployment

According to Ihnat, Russia primarily launched its drones and missiles from the northern oblasts of Ukraine, with the projectiles advancing westward in what was described as a “crawling offensive.“

To counter the threats, Ukraine deployed anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, and aviation assets. Fighter aircraft including F-16 and Mirage-2000 jets participated in the overnight operation. Ihnat noted that these units “performed quite effectively” during the night strike.

Final strike data pending

The Air Force Command is expected to release final verified statistics in its upcoming official summary, confirming the extent of the aerial attack and Ukraine’s defense performance.

Updated data

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that overnight on 6 June (starting 20:00 on 5 June), Russia launched 452 aerial attack assets at Ukraine,

• including 407 Shahed-type strike drones and decoy UAVs from multiple directions,
• six Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles,
• 36 Kh-101 cruise missiles from Tu-95MS and Tu-160MS bombers,
• two Iskander-K cruise missiles, and
• one Kh-31P anti-radar missile.

By 10:00, Ukrainian air defenses had destroyed 406 targets:

• 199 drones were shot down, 169 suppressed or lost via electronic warfare, four ballistic missiles intercepted (two failed mid-air),
• 30 Kh-101 cruise missiles downed, and
• both Iskander-K missiles destroyed.

Airstrikes caused direct hits in 13 locations, with debris from intercepted weapons falling in 19 others.

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.