Kyiv Post correspondents reported updates throughout the night — you can find them here.
Russia launched a massive missile and drone attack across Ukraine early Friday, June 6, killing at least four people and injuring 20 in the capital, Kyiv, as strikes hit cities and regions with a mix of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Kalibr missiles, and dozens of drones.
The strike came less than two days after Russian leader Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump in a phone call that Russia would retaliate for Ukrainian attacks on the airbases deep inside Russia, which damaged aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and angered Moscow.
Explosions were first reported shortly after midnight in Kyiv, where Kyiv Post correspondents said air defense systems were active. Residents heard a mix of sounds – from drones being intercepted to direct hits by ballistic missiles.
By around 2 a.m., reports confirmed that missiles had been launched from four strategic bombers: two TU-95MC and two TU-160MC. Analysts noted the unusually low number of aircraft involved, possibly due to Ukraine’s recent June 1 strikes on Russian airfields that reportedly damaged multiple warplanes.
Around 3 a.m., missile tracking monitors reported the launch of Kalibr missiles from Russian warships stationed in the Black Sea.
In Kyiv, the capital’s military administration reported widespread destruction across multiple districts.
In Solomianskyi, a fire broke out in a metal hangar and an apartment on the 11th floor of a 16-story residential building was destroyed. Three people were rescued from the rubble.
In Darnytskyi, debris fell in three separate locations, damaging vehicles. In Holosiivskyi, fires and destruction were caused by falling wreckage from intercepted drones and missiles – damaging civilian infrastructure, an educational institution, and a gas station.
Debris also fell in the Desnianskyi and Shevchenkivskyi districts, where a fire broke out in non-residential buildings. The Dnipro district reported damage to gas stations.
As of 6:27 a.m., four people had been confirmed dead and 20 injured, 16 of whom were hospitalized.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, three victims were firefighters from the State Emergency Service who died in the line of duty while responding to the attack. Search and rescue operations are continuing.
Ternopil, in western Ukraine, was also struck by Kalibr cruise missiles and Shahed drones. The regional military administration reported fires at industrial facilities.
According to regional head Vyacheslav Nehoda, 26 emergency vehicles and 111 firefighters were deployed. Five people were injured. Authorities also issued a warning about high pollution levels due to the fires and asked residents, especially children and the elderly, to stay indoors.
In Volyn, regional officials confirmed that an apartment building had been hit. Air defense systems were active, but missile and drone fragments damaged numerous homes. Five people were reported injured.
Lutsk Mayor Ihor Polishchuk posted images of the damage and said that assistance was being provided to affected residents.
In Poltava region, one of the heaviest attacks targeted the city of Kremenchuk. Regional head Volodymyr Kohut reported that an administrative building, warehouse, several businesses, a coffee shop, and a private home were damaged by falling debris.
A fire broke out but was contained by emergency services. Three people were injured, including one in moderate condition who was hospitalized.
This marks another major escalation in Russia’s ongoing air campaign, which has intensified following recent attacks on its military infrastructure.
This news story will be updated as more information becomes available.