Camilla Jessen
Russia attacked the city of Kharkiv overnight with drones and ballistic missiles.
Russian forces launched a fresh round of airstrikes on Kharkiv overnight, injuring at least six people—including a 7-year-old boy—and causing widespread damage in the Ukrainian city.
The assault involved both drones and ballistic missiles, local officials reported in the early hours of June 2.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said that drone strikes hit the Kholodnohirskyi district, while two ballistic missiles targeted the Kyivskyi district.
One of the missiles reportedly struck a road just a few dozen meters from a school, while the other landed near high-rise residential buildings, shattering windows and damaging facades.
“It is a miracle that there were no casualties,” Terekhov stated on Telegram, noting that the strikes also damaged several homes, a civilian enterprise, and vehicles.
A New Wave of Attacks
The latest strikes are part of a growing escalation by Russia, which has significantly increased its use of drones and missiles in recent days.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that Moscow may be preparing for another wave of massive strikes, citing intelligence gathered ahead of Ukraine’s recent operations against Russian military aircraft.
Even before the start of this operation, we had intelligence about the preparation of another Russian massive strike,” Zelensky said in his evening address. “Last night, there were almost 500 Russian drones, strike drones. Every week they increase the number of units per strike.
Zelensky also noted that Russia has armed sea-based launch platforms with Kalibr cruise missiles, a sign of potential further escalations.
Kharkiv Under Constant Fire
The city of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest, has been a regular target of Russian missile, glide bomb, and drone attacks since the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022.
Densely populated residential areas have often borne the brunt of these strikes.
The attack overnight follows an already intense wave the previous night, when Russia launched a record-breaking barrage of nearly 500 drones at various Ukrainian targets, overwhelming air defense systems and hitting multiple regions.