Russia Kills 9 in Ukraine Barrage, Hitting Kyiv Cathedral as Poland Scrambles Jets
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 15
Russia Kills 9 in Ukraine Barrage, Hitting Kyiv Cathedral as Poland Scrambles Jets
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 15
Summary
At least 9 people were killed in a sustained Russian missile-and-drone assault before dawn Monday, with 4 dead and 23 injured in Kyiv and 5 more killed in Kharkiv.
The barrage hit 16 locations across the capital, setting the roof of the Dormition Cathedral at Kyiv Pechersk Lavra — a UNESCO-listed religious site — on fire and damaging residential buildings.
Kyiv officials said new launches kept targeting the capital as explosions and interceptor fire shook the city, while Kharkiv appeared to suffer a double-tap strike aimed at emergency responders.
Poland put fighter jets, ground-based air defenses and radar reconnaissance on alert as the strikes followed Vladimir Putin's warning of "systemic" attacks despite Russia's mounting battlefield setbacks.
The assault came a day after Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had spoken with Donald Trump before this week's G7 meeting, underscoring how far diplomacy remains from ending the war.
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.