Russia kills 22 in Kyiv strikes
- Russian forces launched overnight missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, killing civilians and hitting infrastructure across multiple regions. - Ukrainian officials reported at least 22 people killed, and Moscow had warned of a “massive attack” before widening strikes across the country. - Commentators say the bombardment exposes Kremlin political strains and stalled peace talks, shifting diplomacy toward escalation. (nytimes.com) (pbs.org)
<Thread> 1/ Russian missile and drone strikes hit Kyiv and multiple Ukrainian cities overnight into June 3, 2026, killing at least 22 civilians and damaging energy infrastructure, Ukrainian officials reported. The barrage targeted the capital and regions including Odesa, Dnipro, and Kharkiv, with air raid alerts sounding across the country for over 12 hours. 2/ Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said Russia launched 89 missiles and nearly 400 drones in the assault, one of the largest since the full-scale invasion began in 2022. Kyiv's mayor Vitali Klitschko reported six deaths in the capital alone, including a police officer, with over 20 injured in residential areas. Power outages affected hundreds of thousands. 3/ Hours before the strikes, Russia's Defense Ministry issued a public warning of a "massive attack" on Ukraine, signaling an intent to broaden operations beyond frontline zones. The ministry stated the operation responded to Ukrainian drone incursions into Russian territory, including strikes on oil facilities in Tambov region earlier this week. 4/ What got hit? In Kyiv, missiles struck a maternity hospital and apartment blocks, per emergency services. Odesa saw port infrastructure damaged, while Dnipro reported a thermal power plant ablaze. Ukraine downed 34 missiles and 178 drones, but debris from intercepts caused additional fires in at least five oblasts. 5/ President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack "pure terror," saying on Telegram it proves Moscow has no interest in peace. "They hit civilians sleeping in their homes. This is Putin's response to diplomacy," Zelenskyy wrote, vowing retaliation. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi added that the strikes came as U.S.-mediated talks in Riyadh stalled last week. 6/ From Moscow's side, Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov claimed the strikes destroyed Ukrainian drone production sites and air defense systems. Russian state media aired footage of launches from Crimea and Belgorod, framing it as retaliation for Kyiv's incursions. No independent verification of military targets was immediately available. 7/ The New York Times reports these strikes mask Kremlin strains: Russian recruitment is falling short of targets by 40%, per leaked military memos, forcing coerced mobilization in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk. Domestic protests over conscription grew in May, with over 5,000 arrests. 8/ Peace talks? U.S.-brokered discussions in Saudi Arabia ended Friday without progress, after Russia rejected a 30-day ceasefire proposal. Ukrainian officials told The Independent that Moscow is "losing on the battlefield," citing Russian losses of 1,200 troops daily near Pokrovsk. Kyiv now conditions negotiations on full territorial restoration. 9/ Casualties by city: Kyiv (6 killed, 28 injured), Odesa (4 dead), Dnipro (5), Kharkiv (3), plus four in Zaporizhzhia and smaller strikes elsewhere totaling 22 confirmed dead. Zelenskyy's office said over 100 wounded nationwide. Restoration crews began repairs at dawn. 10/ What's next? Ukraine plans to present evidence of the strikes to the UN Security Council on June 5. NATO defense ministers meet in Brussels June 6 to discuss air defense boosts, including more Patriot systems. Russia warned of further "responses" if Ukrainian drones continue. </Thread>
