Kyiv, June 2: At least nine people were killed and nearly 100 others injured after Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s capital Kyiv and several other regions early Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said.
The large-scale attack, which targeted residential and commercial areas, caused widespread destruction, sparked multiple fires, and damaged critical infrastructure across the city. Emergency services were deployed throughout the night as rescue operations continued in affected districts.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko described the assault as a “massive enemy attack,” while authorities expressed concern that several people may still be trapped beneath the rubble of a partially collapsed apartment building in the Podilsky district.
Tymur Tkachenko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, said preliminary reports indicated that residents remained trapped under debris following what officials described as a “double-tap” strike. Rescue teams continued search operations amid fears that the death toll could rise.
According to local authorities, at least 58 people were wounded in Kyiv alone, including children. Power outages were reported in several areas, and emergency shelters were activated across the capital.
A suspected missile strike hit a 24-storey residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district, triggering a major fire. Another blaze erupted in a nine-storey building in the Podil district after debris struck its roof. Several other facilities, including a medical clinic and a kindergarten complex, also sustained damage.
The surrounding Kyiv region, including the town of Bucha, reported destruction to homes and civilian infrastructure. Regional Governor Mykola Kalashynk said Russian forces used a combination of drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles in the coordinated attack.
The strikes came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned of a possible escalation in Russian attacks. In his nightly address on Monday, Zelenskyy said intelligence reports suggested Moscow was preparing a major strike against Ukraine.
The latest assault follows Russia’s recent warning that it would conduct “consistent and systematic strikes” on Ukraine’s defence-related infrastructure in Kyiv. Moscow’s warning came after a deadly Ukrainian drone attack in the Russian-controlled city of Starobilsk, where Russian authorities reported 18 deaths and 42 injuries.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said its armed forces would target Ukrainian defence industry facilities involved in the production and deployment of drones, accusing NATO specialists of assisting Kyiv with intelligence and operational support.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has continued its campaign of long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure. Zelenskyy claimed Ukrainian forces had targeted 15 Russian oil refineries between January and May, significantly reducing Russia’s refining capacity and affecting fuel exports.
The renewed escalation underscores the intensifying conflict between the two countries as both sides continue to expand attacks deep beyond the front lines.