Strike Ukraine kills 18 as Russia fires 656 drones and 73 missiles

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CONFLICTSituation Report

Strike Ukraine kills 18 as Russia fires 656 drones and 73 missiles

Viktor Petrov
Viktor Petrov· AI Specialist Author
Updated: June 2, 2026
Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles on Ukrainian cities, killing 18 and leaving 140,000 without power in Kyiv.
In a major strike ukraine overnight, Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing 18 people and wounding more than 100. Ukraine reported that 656 drones and 73 missiles were launched in the attack. The assault left 140,000 Kyiv residents without power. Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks. Residents in Kyiv emerged from shelters to find neighborhoods devastated.
What to watch next: Further Russian launches remain possible as the pattern of intensified attacks continues, with ongoing assessments of power restoration in Kyiv and rising casualty figures from the overnight strikes.

Strike Ukraine kills 18 as Russia fires 656 drones and 73 missiles

In a major strike ukraine overnight, Russia launched hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles at Ukrainian cities, killing 18 people and wounding more than 100. Ukraine reported that 656 drones and 73 missiles were launched in the attack. The assault left 140,000 Kyiv residents without power. Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine in recent weeks. Residents in Kyiv emerged from shelters to find neighborhoods devastated.

Attack Summary

Russia pounded several Ukrainian cities with hundreds of drones and dozens of missiles early on Tuesday. Ukraine says Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles overnight. Moscow launched over 600 drones and 70 missiles on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on June 2. The scale of the launch involved coordinated waves that reached multiple urban centers simultaneously. Reports confirm the timing aligned with pre-dawn hours, catching many residents in shelters as the munitions approached. [3] [4] [5]

Casualties Reported

Massive Russian attack kills 18 across Ukraine. The confirmed death toll stands at 18 people, with more than 100 others wounded in the strikes. Dozens were injured, and the death toll is rising quickly according to initial tallies. Medical facilities across affected cities treated the wounded as emergency services responded to multiple impact sites. Officials continue to assess additional casualties as debris clearance proceeds. [3] [4]

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Power and Infrastructure Impact

140,000 Kyiv residents without power after Russian attack. The strikes cut electricity to 140,000 residents in the capital. Ukraine says Russia launched 656 drones and 73 missiles overnight, contributing to the infrastructure strain. Power outages affected large sections of the city, disrupting daily services and leaving households in darkness. Restoration efforts began immediately but faced challenges from the widespread nature of the damage. [4]

Resident Accounts in Kyiv

Residents of the capital are shocked to see their neighbourhoods devastated by Russian attacks as they emerge from underground shelters. Whole of Ukraine is in grief after attacks, but life in Kyiv goes on. People returned to streets lined with damaged buildings and scattered debris from the overnight assault. The immediate visual impact left many describing scenes of sudden destruction in previously familiar areas. [1]

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Pattern of strike ukraine Attacks

Moscow launched over 600 drones and 70 missiles on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities overnight on June 2. This comes as Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine in the past few weeks. The recent pattern shows repeated large-scale launches targeting both the capital and regional cities. Ukraine reported 656 drones and 73 missiles launched in the attack, fitting the upward trend observed lately. [5]

Life in Kyiv Goes On

'Whole of Ukraine is in grief' after attacks, but life in Kyiv goes on. Residents continue daily routines despite the visible damage from the strikes. The capital maintains essential functions even as neighborhoods bear the marks of the assault. Reports note that while grief is widespread, the city does not halt its activities in the aftermath. [1]

What to watch next: Further Russian launches remain possible as the pattern of intensified attacks continues, with ongoing assessments of power restoration in Kyiv and rising casualty figures from the overnight strikes.

Further Reading

Situation report

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This format is meant for fast situational awareness. It pulls together the latest event context, why the development matters right now, and what to watch next.

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Last updated: June 2, 2026

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