Russia launched an attack with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles targeting many Ukrainian cities, killing at least 23 people and injuring 130 others, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 3.
The attacks targeted locations including Kiev and Dnipro. This is the 3rd strong attack on Kiev in less than a month.
Previously, Russia warned it would carry out "systematic" attacks on the Ukrainian capital after a drone attack on a dormitory in the Lugansk region controlled by Russia. Kiev denied allegations of targeting this dormitory.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Russia may continue to launch another large-scale attack. He called on people to pay attention to air strike warnings and emphasized that Ukraine lacks air defense systems to effectively respond to Russian missiles.
According to Volodymyr Zelensky, in the night Russia used more than 70 missiles and 650 unmanned aerial vehicles. On the next day, Russian forces continued to deploy 100 more unmanned aerial vehicles. The Ukrainian leader also once again asked Washington to provide more Patriot interceptor missiles.
Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on partners to strengthen sanctions against Russia and provide more military support to Kiev.
In Kiev, local authorities said 7 people were killed and at least 90 injured. Many photos from the scene showed large explosions and columns of smoke rising between residential areas. At least 9 high-rise buildings, a kindergarten, a clinic and many offices and administrative facilities were damaged. DTEK Electricity Company said the attack caused about 140,000 residents to lose power.
More than 40,000 people have been sheltered in the Kiev subway system, the highest level in many years.
In the city of Dnipro in southeastern Ukraine, local authorities said 16 people were killed in the night, including 2 boys. The next attacks in the day also injured at least 2 others.
The Ukrainian Air Force said the attack included 33 ballistic missiles and 8 Zircon supersonic missiles. This seems to be the largest number of Zircon missiles used simultaneously since the conflict broke out. Ukraine claims to have shot down or neutralized 40 missiles and 602 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that they had carried out a large-scale attack with long-range precision weapons targeting defense industry targets and hit 10 military production facilities in Kiev.
