In a significant escalation of military action, Russian forces executed a dual-wave missile strike against Ukraine on June 2, deploying eight Zircon anti-ship missiles among other weaponry. This tactic was detailed by Colonel Yuriy Ihnat, head of the communications department of the Ukrainian Air Force, during a broadcast on Suspilne Studio.
Colonel Ihnat noted that the attack featured a substantial use of ballistic missiles, highlighting the deployment of eight Zircon missiles in a single operation. Four of these missiles were launched from the north, followed by another four in the early morning hours, targeting Kyiv as the nation was beginning to assess the damage from the initial strike.
“The distinct feature of this strike is the extensive use of ballistic missiles. The enemy launched eight Zircon missiles in one attack. Four were fired from the northern direction, and another four were launched in the morning when the country was recovering from the initial strike,” Colonel Ihnat stated.
This coordinated assault on June 2 was compared to a previous attack on May 24, with Colonel Ihnat indicating that the number of drones and missiles used was nearly identical in both instances.
“A total of seventy-three missiles were launched, of which forty-one followed a ballistic trajectory. We successfully intercepted a significant number of cruise missiles, approximately twenty-six to twenty-seven Kh-101 missiles, and three out of five Kalibr missiles were also intercepted. The performance of our pilots, particularly in the Air Force, was commendable, as we achieved a high interception rate of various types of drones as well,” he added.
The Russian military’s strike on June 2 targeted multiple urban centers, including Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Sumy. The assault resulted in casualties and damage to infrastructure.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, a total of 656 drones of various types were launched by Russian forces, alongside 73 missiles from air, sea, and ground platforms. In the ensuing air defense engagements, Ukrainian forces managed to neutralize 602 drones and 40 missiles. However, the attack resulted in the successful impact of 30 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and 33 strike drones across 38 locations, with drone debris reported in fifteen areas.
On June 2, Russian forces conducted a coordinated missile attack on Ukraine, utilizing eight Zircon missiles among other weaponry. The operation resulted in significant casualties and extensive damage across several cities, highlighting ongoing military hostilities in the region.