A series of intense missile and drone strikes by Russia resulted in the deaths of nine individuals and injured dozens more across Ukraine, just days after President Volodymyr Zelensky issued warnings of an impending “massive new strike” from Moscow.
The assault on Ukraine has become a near-daily occurrence since the onset of the offensive in 2022, often resulting in retaliatory measures from Kyiv. Negotiations aimed at resolving Europe’s most severe conflict since World War II remain stagnant as violence escalates on the ground.
In the capital, Kyiv, an array of explosions was audible to AFP journalists, with local authorities confirming that Russia targeted the city using ballistic missiles. This onslaught caused significant damage, igniting fires and disrupting power across multiple districts. Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that four people lost their lives, with at least 58, including two children, sustaining injuries in what he termed a “mass enemy attack.”
Klitschko had previously cautioned residents to seek shelter, asserting, “Explosions in the city. Air defense forces are working! Stay in shelters!” Eyewitness accounts depicted a frantic rush of people grabbing bags and blankets as they fled to safety, with large plumes of smoke rising from the city center.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s City Military Administration, affirmed the use of ballistic missiles in the assault, stating, “The enemy is striking with ballistic missiles.”
Other regions also experienced deadly strikes. In the city of Dnipro, a Russian shelling attack resulted in five fatalities and injured 25 others, three of whom were reported to be in serious condition, according to local governor Oleksandr Ganzha. Meanwhile, in Kharkiv, ten individuals, including one child, were reported wounded, as stated by Mayor Igor Terekhov.
In a retaliatory measure, a Ukrainian drone strike in Russia’s Kursk region claimed one life, according to regional governor Alexander Khinshtein. Additionally, another Ukrainian drone attack ignited a fire at an oil refinery in the southwestern city of Krasnodar, as reported by its operational headquarters.
These violent exchanges unfolded soon after Zelensky cautioned that intelligence had indicated Russia was gearing up for a significant strike. He urged citizens to “protect your lives,” emphasizing the importance of heeding air alerts. “Our services are working efficiently and are prepared; the Air Force and other defenders of our skies will be on duty 24/7, as always,” he stated.
Zelensky has renewed his appeals to international allies, advocating for the provision and funding of Patriot missiles, which are capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles. In a recent communication to U.S. President Donald Trump and Congress, he emphasized the need for Patriot systems to counter the intensifying Russian aerial assaults.
In response to the daily bombardments, Ukraine has escalated its own strikes on occupied territories and Russian targets. Notably, an analysis of Ukrainian air force data revealed that Russia launched a record 8,150 long-range drones at Ukraine in May, marking a 24 percent increase from April. Despite the scale of the attacks, Kyiv successfully intercepted approximately 90 percent of all incoming drones and missiles during the same month, according to the air force’s metrics.
