Russian Missile and Drone Attacks Kill 16 Across Ukraine

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack across Ukraine overnight, killing at least 16 people, including two children, in one of the most extensive assaults carried out by Moscow in recent months.

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Ukrainian officials said 11 people died in the southeastern city of Dnipro after an apartment building was struck, while another five people were killed in the capital, Kyiv. Dozens more were injured as attacks hit multiple regions across the country.

Heavy Casualties in Dnipro and Kyiv

Among those killed in Dnipro were an eight-year-old boy and a woman whose body was recovered from the rubble of a damaged apartment block. Regional authorities said another child also died in the strike.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said part of the residential building had been “essentially demolished” by the attack.

More than 70 people were reported injured in Dnipro and Kyiv. In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, authorities said 10 people were wounded, including a child.

Hundreds of Drones and Missiles Fired

According to Zelensky, Russia launched 656 strike drones and 73 missiles of various types during the overnight assault, including ballistic, cruise and anti-ship missiles.

The president said civilian infrastructure and energy facilities were targeted nationwide, with the main focus on Kyiv. He reported damage to dozens of residential buildings and other civilian sites in the capital.

Large plumes of smoke rose over Kyiv on Tuesday morning as air raid sirens sounded. City officials warned residents of incoming ballistic missiles and urged them to remain in shelters.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said fires broke out near a petrol station, a construction site, several apartment blocks and private homes. Power outages were also reported in parts of the city.

Russia Says Strikes Were Retaliation

Russia's defence ministry said the attacks were carried out in response to previous Ukrainian operations and claimed all intended targets had been successfully hit.

The assault followed warnings from Moscow last week that it would conduct “systematic strikes” after accusing Ukraine of carrying out a deadly attack on a student dormitory in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Kyiv has said its operation targeted a Russian military unit.

On Monday evening, Zelensky warned that a major Russian attack could be imminent and urged Ukrainians to pay close attention to air raid alerts.

Calls for More Air Defence Support

Following the strikes, Zelensky renewed calls for additional Western military assistance, particularly interceptor missiles for Patriot air defence systems.

He said Ukraine urgently needed further supplies from the United States to strengthen its ability to defend against missile attacks. Shortages of Patriot missiles have become a growing concern as demand for the systems has increased globally.

Since returning to office last year, Donald Trump has halted direct U.S. military supplies to Ukraine, leading European allies to purchase American equipment before transferring it to Kyiv.

Continuing Escalation

The latest barrage is part of a renewed cycle of attacks following the expiry of a brief ceasefire in May. Russia has since launched several major strikes on Kyiv, including an earlier attack on a residential block that killed 24 people, among them three children.

Ukraine has also conducted attacks inside Russia, including a recent strike in the Moscow region that Russian officials said killed three people. Zelensky described that operation as justified.

Ukraine's government accused Russia of using threats and military escalation as pressure tactics and called on international partners to increase support and pressure on Moscow as the war, which began with Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, continues.

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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 2 June 2026