Overnight, Russia Launched 729 Missiles and Drones Against Ukraine

Massive Assault on Ukraine

According to Главком: On the night of June 2, Russia carried out a large-scale combined attack on Ukraine, deploying 73 missiles and 656 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). In total, 729 aerial assault assets were recorded, highlighting the extreme intensity of the operation. The estimated cost of this assault is around $255.5 million. The targeted regions included Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Poltava, and Chernihiv. As of 12:00 PM, 16 people have been confirmed dead and over 100 wounded.

Attack Details

The assault involved the use of:

• 8 3M22 'Zircon' missiles
• 33 'Iskander-M' missiles
• 32 Kh-101 / 'Kalibr' cruise missiles

Specifically, Russian forces deployed 656 strike UAVs, including Shahed, 'Gerbera', 'Italmas', 'Banderol', and 'Parody' drones. Each Zircon missile costs $10 million, Iskander-M missiles are valued at $3.2 million each, and Kalibr missiles at $750,000 per unit. A single Shahed drone costs $70,000.

In Kyiv, the aftermath of the attack was addressed at 29 locations, with work still ongoing at six sites. Among the casualties, 11 people-including two children-died in Dnipro, four were killed at the strike site in Kyiv, and one Kyiv resident later died in the hospital. Air defense forces managed to intercept or suppress 642 targets, including 40 out of 73 missiles and 602 out of 656 drones.

According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russian forces are demonstrating low battlefield effectiveness and have failed to achieve significant gains in their spring-summer 2026 campaign.

This attack underscores Russia's continued aggressive tactics despite the challenges it faces on the front lines. On one hand, these massive strikes reveal the Kremlin's intent to maintain pressure on Ukraine; on the other, they indicate that Russia's strategic goals remain out of reach. Given the heavy losses-both in military resources and civilian lives-such actions may lead to even greater international condemnation and increased Western support for Ukraine.

The recent attack comes on the heels of a series of extensive strikes targeting Ukraine's vital infrastructure, showcasing Russia's ongoing strategy to undermine the country's resilience. For a deeper understanding of the implications of these sustained assaults and their impact on civilian life, read more about the recent extensive strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure.