Russia Launches Large-Scale Attack on Ukraine with Over 400 Drones and 40 Missiles

Russian forces launched a massive assault on Ukraine overnight on June 6, targeting the capital, major cities, and far-western regions with over 400 drones and 40 missiles. A total of 80 people were injured and four killed, including first responders. The attack comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin promised to respond to Ukraine's drone strike against a Russian military facility in Crimea.

Key Takeaways:

• Ukraine reported that Russia launched 452 drones, including Iranian-designed Shahed-type suicide drones, along with 45 missiles of various types. Air defenses intercepted 199 drones, while another 169 dropped off radars, likely used as decoys to overwhelm Ukrainian systems.
• Ukrainian forces also intercepted 36 missiles, including the Iskander-M ballistic missile. The attack targeted almost all of Ukraine, including Volyn, Lviv, Ternopil, Kyiv, Sumy, Poltava, Khmelnytskyi, Cherkasy, and Chernihiv regions.
• Ukraine's General Staff said the strike was a "response" to Operation Spiderweb, but Russia needs no excuse to bombard Ukraine with drones and missiles.
• Ukrainian forces conducted a series of strikes on Russian air bases in Engels and Dyagilevo, targeting key hubs for Russia's long-range bomber fleet.
• Ukraine also claims to have struck a logistics center tied to the 30th Motorized Rifle Regiment of Russia's 72nd Division near Kulbaki in Kursk Oblast.
• Russia's Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Palisa warned that Russia plans to occupy eastern Ukraine east of the Dnipro River and advance toward Odesa and Mykolaiv, aiming to sever Ukraine's access to the Black Sea.
• The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that 174 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight across 12 regions of Russia and occupied Crimea.

Statistics:

• 452: Number of drones launched by Russia overnight on June 6
• 40: Number of missiles launched by Russia overnight on June 6
• 80: Number of people injured in the attack
• 4: Number of people killed in the attack, including first responders
• 199: Number of drones intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses
• 169: Number of drones that dropped off radar, likely used as decoys
• 36: Number of missiles intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses
• 20%: Current amount of Ukraine occupied by Russian forces, according to the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)

Sources:

• The Kyiv Independent
• Russian Emergency Situations Ministry
• Ukrainian General Staff
• U.S.-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS)
• Russian state media outlet TASS
• Astra, an independent media outlet