On June 5–6, Russia launched a massive aerial assault on Ukraine, deploying over 400 drones and 40 missiles, including cruise and ballistic types, in one of the war’s largest strikes.
Targeting nine regions, from Kyiv to Lviv and Sumy, the attack killed at least six, including three emergency responders in Kyiv, and injured 80, per Reuters.
Ukraine’s air force intercepted 406 of 452 projectiles, including 32 cruise missiles, but damage hit civilian infrastructure, apartments, and warehouses, per The Guardian.
Today, rescue and emergency operations continued all day across various regions and cities of our country.
Over 400 drones, more than 40 missiles were launched by the Russians. 80 people were injured, and some may still be under the debris. And unfortunately, not everyone in the… pic.twitter.com/NaKk8B8AZO
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 6, 2025
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the strikes, calling for global pressure on Russia. In a video shared by Zelenskyy on X, he said, “Today, rescue and emergency operations continued all day across various regions and cities of our country. Over 400 drones, more than 40 missiles were launched by the Russians. 80 people were injured, and some may still be under the debris. And unfortunately, not everyone in the world condemns such attacks. This is exactly what Putin exploits. He is buying himself time to keep waging war. The Russians constantly try to drive wedges into the unity of the world in order to prevent stronger pressure for their war. We must clearly see the task at hand. Diplomacy must work, security guarantees must be ensured, and peace must be established. For that, initial steps are needed, particularly a ceasefire. Pressure must be applied on Russia to make that happen and to stop the attacks.”
Russia’s defense ministry claimed the attack targeted Ukrainian military sites, describing it as retaliation for Ukraine’s June 1 drone strike on Russian airbases. The assault disrupted power in Sumy and Kharkiv, with emergency blackouts.
The timing, coinciding with peace talks in Istanbul, underscored escalating tensions. The attack highlights Russia’s intensified drone warfare strategy, exploiting Ukraine’s strained air defenses, per Reuters. Zelenskyy’s plea for advanced Western support remains urgent as the conflict deepens.
