In the early hours of June 2, Russia executed a coordinated assault on Ukraine, deploying drones and missiles that targeted several urban areas, including Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia.
Key Details:
- Russian forces launched groups of drones, ballistic missiles, and Kalibr cruise missiles.
- Strategic bombers Tu-95MS and Tu-160 were also deployed.
- Significant explosions were reported in Kharkiv and Dnipro, leading to fires in both cities.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian attempts to strike Ukraine with drones began throughout the day on June 1. By the evening, around 9 PM, multiple groups of drones were detected in Ukrainian airspace, a trend that continued into the early hours of June 2.
As the new day commenced, military sources reported launches of Kalibr cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea. While the Air Force indicated that the missiles would likely enter Ukrainian airspace around 2 AM, monitoring channels suggested that some missiles may have already targeted Dnipro as early as 1:10 AM, although this information has not been officially confirmed.
Furthermore, monitoring reports indicated that strategic bombers Tu-160 and Tu-95MS were active during the night. Preliminary information suggested that Tu-160 conducted launch maneuvers around 1:25 AM, with the first targets detected over Sumy region at 1:51 AM, reportedly linked to missiles from the Tu-160. Three Tu-95MS aircraft were believed to have launched missiles around 1:55 AM.
There were also warnings that the enemy might deploy MiG-31K aircraft, which are capable of carrying the Kinzhal hypersonic missile.
City Impact Reports:
Kyiv: The first explosions in the capital were heard at 1:50 AM amid the drone assault, although no immediate information regarding damage was available. By 2:15 AM, multiple explosions were reported as the city faced a significant ballistic attack.
Kharkiv: A series of explosions occurred around 1:02 AM, with reports indicating that two districts were targeted. Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated that a strike hit an industrial area in the Osnovyansky district, resulting in casualties and a fire at the site.
Sumy: Explosions in Sumy coincided with those in Kharkiv, but details regarding the aftermath remain unclear.
Dnipro: Reports indicated that explosions were heard at 1:16 AM, coinciding with concerns over ballistic missile threats from the east. According to the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Hanji, a two-story building was partially destroyed due to the attack, resulting in a fire.
Zaporizhzhia: Attacks on Zaporizhzhia began as early as the evening of June 1. By 11:19 PM, an object of critical infrastructure was reported to have been struck. Additionally, at 1:47 AM, regional head Ivan Fedorov confirmed that another attack had targeted an industrial facility, with fast-moving targets detected during the second wave of strikes.
Russia's coordinated drone and missile strikes on June 2 have impacted several major Ukrainian cities, leading to casualties and infrastructure damage. The attacks involved a variety of military assets, including strategic bombers and cruise missiles.