Massive Attack! Putin Launches 656 Drones and 73 Missiles at Ukraine, 9 Dead

At least nine people were killed and dozens others injured after Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, firing 656 drones and 73 missiles overnight on Tuesday (2/6/2026) local time. The Ukrainian Air Force stated that Russia deployed hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles, including difficult-to-intercept ballistic missiles. Of the total onslaught, Ukraine claims to have successfully shot down or neutralised 602 drones and 40 missiles. This attack stands as one of the largest since the war broke out in 2022, primarily hitting the capital, Kyiv, and several other major cities.

“Forty missiles and 602 drones were shot down or neutralised, but 38 locations were hit, with Kyiv as the primary target,” the Ukrainian Air Force said in a statement, as quoted by CBC News. In Kyiv, the strikes caused at least four deaths and 58 injuries, including two children. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that the city was targeted by a “massive enemy attack” that triggered fires, damaged buildings, and disrupted electricity supplies. “Explosions in the city. Air defence forces are working! Stay in shelters!” Klitschko urged.

Beyond Kyiv, the attacks also caused casualties in the city of Dnipro. Local authorities reported at least five deaths and 25 injuries, though Ukrainian emergency services, as cited by the Associated Press, reported the death toll in that city reached six with 36 others injured. A rescuer was also reported killed during a follow-up strike as emergency teams arrived at the scene. In Kharkiv, at least 10 people, including a child, were injured by the Russian strikes.

AFP reporters noted that explosions were heard across various regions of Kyiv as residents rushed to shelters, with thick plumes of smoke visible from several points in the city centre. A Kyiv resident, Olha Mudra, described the aftermath as chaotic, telling Reuters, “We did not understand what was happening, it was like doomsday. Everything was covered in debris and smoke; you could not see anything.”

Tymur Tkachenko, Head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, stated that Russia utilised ballistic missiles during the attack. Meanwhile, the electricity company DTEK reported that approximately 140,000 customers briefly lost power due to infrastructure damage. On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defence confirmed it had conducted a “massive strike” against targets in Ukraine, claiming its primary objectives were Ukrainian military-industrial complexes and that the operation involved various weapon types, including hypersonic missiles.

This latest escalation comes just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Russia was preparing a “new, massive attack.” He once again urged citizens to adhere to air raid warnings and called on Western allies to accelerate the delivery of Patriot air defence systems to counter the increasing intensity of Russian missile strikes. According to Ukrainian Air Force data analysis, Russia launched a record 8,150 long-range drones throughout May, a 24% increase compared to April. Although Ukraine claims to intercept approximately 90% of the drones and missiles launched by Russia during that period, the intensity of Moscow’s attacks continues to rise amidst the stalemate in diplomatic efforts to end the war.