Coordinated Large-Scale Strike Targets Multiple Ukrainian Regions
On the night of June 2, 2024, Russia launched a sweeping combined attack against Ukraine, deploying 73 missiles and 656 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The primary focus of the assault was Kyiv, but cities including Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava Oblast, and other areas also came under fire. The strikes resulted in 10 fatalities and left over 83 people wounded.
The offensive began shortly after 6:00 PM on June 1, with missiles fired from Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Rostov regions, as well as from the temporarily occupied Crimean peninsula. Among the 729 aerial threats recorded were:
- 73 missiles, including:
- 8 Zircon 3M22 anti-ship missiles
- 33 Iskander-M ballistic missiles
- 27 Kh-101 cruise missiles
- 5 Kalibr cruise missiles
- 656 attack UAVs, comprising Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas types, Banderol munitions, and Parody decoy drones.
Ukrainian air defense forces managed to intercept 40 missiles and 602 UAVs, including 11 Iskander-M ballistic missiles, 26 Kh-101 cruise missiles, and 3 Kalibr cruise missiles. As of 8:30 AM, impacts were confirmed for 30 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles, and 33 attack UAVs across 38 locations, with debris from downed drones falling at 15 additional sites.
Devastation Across Ukrainian Cities
Kyiv suffered extensive damage, with eight districts hit, damaging residential buildings, hospitals, schools, and businesses. The capital reported 4 dead and more than 50 injured, including children. In response, traffic was temporarily halted in several parts of the city.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast also faced heavy strikes, affecting Dnipro, Kamianske, Nikopol, Synelnykove, and Kryvyi Rih districts. These attacks claimed 6 lives and wounded 33 individuals. Emergency services remain active at the scenes, and the situation continues to be critical.
This assault ranks among the most intense in recent months, underscoring the escalating severity of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
The destruction of civilian infrastructure and the high number of casualties highlight the grave challenges Ukraine endures during wartime. While air defenses successfully neutralized a substantial portion of the incoming missiles and drones, the toll on people and infrastructure remains severe.