Russian Air Attacks Kill 9 in Ukraine, Ignite 11th-Century Kyiv Monastery
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Jun 15
Russian Air Attacks Kill 9 in Ukraine, Ignite 11th-Century Kyiv Monastery
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Jun 15
Summary
Four people were killed in Kyiv and five in Kharkiv after Russian missiles and drones hit Ukraine overnight, setting the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra's Dormition Cathedral on fire and injuring dozens more.
140,000 Kyiv residents lost power as strikes damaged apartment blocks and electricity lines in the heaviest assault on the capital in two weeks, with most of Ukraine under air raid alerts.
Poland briefly scrambled fighter jets during the barrage, while Ukraine said it would urgently seek a UNESCO response over damage to the World Heritage monastery.
The attacks came a day after Volodymyr Zelenskiy discussed ending the war with Donald Trump before this week's G7 meeting, even as Ukraine struck bridges supplying Russian-held Crimea and drones killed three in Russia's Tula.
As buildings fall, what is the war's invisible toll on the minds of Ukraine's next generation?
As cultural sites burn, can international law stop Russia's war on Ukrainian heritage?
Is Russia's war on culture erasing Ukrainian identity, or is it creating a stronger one?
Russia’s June 2, 2026 Missile Barrage on Ukraine: Scale, Civilian Impact, and Escalating Global Risks
Overview
On June 2, 2026, Russia launched a massive and carefully coordinated missile and drone attack on Ukraine, using successive waves of drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles to overwhelm air defenses. This strategy allowed more projectiles to penetrate Ukraine’s defenses, causing fires and damage to homes and infrastructure in Kyiv, as well as widespread blackouts. The strikes also led to casualties in other regions, such as Kherson. The attack’s scale and planning highlight Russia’s intent to maximize impact, while Ukraine’s defenses struggled to keep up with the intensity and complexity of the assault.