Kiev, Ukraine – AP
On early Tuesday, Russia unleashed a barrage of drones and missiles on two Ukrainian cities, resulting in three fatalities and at least 13 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials.
The assaults targeted Kiev, the capital, and Odesa, a vital port city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described this as “one of the biggest” attacks during the ongoing conflict that has lasted over three years. He reported that approximately 315 drones, primarily Shaheds, and seven missiles were launched against Ukraine in one night.
Zelensky expressed concern, saying, “The Russian missile and Shahed strikes exceed the collective efforts of the US and the international community to urge Russia towards peace,” and he called for “concrete action” from both the US and Europe in response to these assaults.
Local authorities in Odesa reported damage to a maternity hospital and a residential building, with two fatalities and nine injuries confirmed in the region. The chief of law enforcement in the area, Ole Kiper, provided this information.
Additional victims were discovered in the Obolon area of Kyiv, as reported by Tymur Tkachenko, who heads the local administration. He remarked, “These are no longer military-targeted strikes; ordinary lives are being affected. This highlights the nature of the conflict we are facing.”
Witnesses noted hearing explosions and the sound of drones overhead throughout the day. The latest wave of attacks followed nearly 500 drones deployed by Russia the day prior, marking one of the largest overnight assaults of the past three years. There are expectations that Russia will respond to Ukraine’s recent bold drone strikes on its distant air force bases.
Despite ongoing negotiations in Istanbul that aimed to establish ceasefire terms, both sides have intensified their military actions against one another. As of now, the only tangible outcome from those talks was a prisoner exchange that began on Monday, concerning soldiers aged 18 to 25.
Additionally, a similar exchange related to the remains of fallen soldiers was announced, though specific timing has yet to be disclosed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov commented on the body exchange, noting uncertainty regarding the number of bodies to be returned, and accused Kiev of hindering the process.
During the attacks, residents of Kyiv sought shelter in metro stations. One woman, Nina Nosivet, 32, said she was anxiously waiting for the danger to pass, curling up with her 8-month-old son. Another resident, Krishtina Semak, 37, described how she was jolted awake by the explosions and rushed to the subway with a rug for warmth.
In Kyiv, at least four districts saw fires break out as debris from the intercepted drones fell onto residential buildings. Vasyl Pesenko, 25, recounted his experience, saying, “I was in bed, hoping the drones wouldn’t hit. But then I heard an explosion and felt everything shake.”
The Russian attacks have reportedly ignited 19 fires throughout Ukraine, as noted by Home Minister Ihor Klimenko, who insisted that Russia must face justice for its actions, emphasizing that safety for Ukraine and the world is dependent on this justice.
In Moscow, the Defense Ministry claimed that the strikes aimed at Kiev’s arms factories, military bases, and logistic centers were successful, stating, “All targeted objectives have been reached.”
Casualties from previous Russian strikes continued to mount on Tuesday. In Kharkiv, rescuers found additional bodies amid the debris of an attacked building, bringing the total casualties to five, with fear that more may still be trapped. In another northern city, a 17-year-old boy succumbed to injuries from a strike that occurred on June 3rd, increasing the death toll from that incident to six.
Simultaneously, the Russian Defense Ministry reported having neutralized 102 Ukrainian drones within Russian territories and Crimea. Following the drone attacks, authorities temporarily restricted flights at several Russian airports, including those in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
