‘Demonstrative Terror’: Russian Strikes Kill at Least Six, Including Infant, Injure Dozens

Russian forces launched a wave of missile and drone attacks on multiple Ukrainian cities in the early hours of June 5, killing at least six people, including a one-year-old child, and injuring dozens more.

According to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service (DSNS), Kharkiv came under a combined strike of kamikaze drones and missiles, resulting in 17 injuries, including four children.

“Preliminary data shows 17 people were injured. Hits caused damage to high-rise buildings and civilian vehicles,” the DSNS reported via Telegram.

Fires broke out in several locations, including the top floor of a 17-story residential building, an apartment on the second floor and basement of another five-story building, and three vehicles.

Emergency teams, including pyrotechnic and canine units, responded at the scene, with psychologists offering support to affected residents.

There were six confirmed drone strikes in Kharkiv, including one that failed to detonate. Another hit an apartment on the 17th floor. In total, seven high-rise buildings and four vehicles were damaged in the Slobidskyi district.

In Pryluky, Chernihiv region, a kamikaze drone strike killed at least five people, including a woman, her daughter, and her one-year-old grandson, according to Vyacheslav Chaus, head of the Chernihiv Regional Military Administration (OVA).

Six more residents were hospitalized with varying degrees of injuries. Authorities said at least six drones, likely of the “Geran” type [a Russian-built Shahed under Iranian license], hit residential areas, destroying two homes, two garages, an outbuilding, and a car.

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This was not a strike on infrastructure - it was a strike on civilian homes, officials emphasized.

“When children die, it is no longer just war, it is demonstrative terror. We will not forget and will not forgive,” one of the local officials said.

Meanwhile, in Kherson, Russian forces carried out an airstrike on the city center on Wednesday morning, injuring a 74-year-old man. The Kherson OVA reported that he was hospitalized with a warhead-blast injury and is undergoing additional examinations.

The blast also damaged a city council building, shattering windows across eight offices.

Russian forces once again targeted Ukraine’s Odesa region with UAVs, destroying a medical facility, a children’s center, and a lyceum [specialized high school for 14-17 year olds], according to emergency services.

Fires broke out at the sites but were quickly extinguished by rescuers and local fire brigades.

“Fortunately, no one was injured,” DSNS reported.

Authorities continue rescue operations and damage assessments across all affected regions. The death toll may rise as efforts to clear the rubble continue.

Updated: Russian strikes kill fire chief’s family in Pryluky, damage regional admin building in Kherson

In Pryluky, a drone strike killed the family of the head of the local fire department, according to Ukraine’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko.

Writing on Telegram, Klymenko said that the Russian UAV hit the officer’s home during the June 5 attack.

“His family was killed. His wife. His daughter, a patrol police officer. And her one-year-old son,” he wrote. “The rescuer, who had just responded to the aftermath of the Russian strike with his team, lost them all.”

“My condolences for the irreparable loss. The murders and suffering of civilians are the style of a cruel Russia, for which human lives have no value,” Klymenko added.

The Chernihiv regional police reported that as of 9:00 a.m., the number of injured in Pryluky had risen to eight.

Meanwhile, in Kherson, Russian forces launched another airstrike on the morning of June 5.

According to the head of the Kherson OVA, Oleksandr Prokudin, four Russian guided bombs hit the center of the city within 15 minutes, causing severe destruction.

One of the bombs struck the regional administration building, blowing out windows, collapsing part of the facade, and completely destroying the central section of the roof. Photos and footage show debris scattered in front of the building and signs of a powerful blast wave on the surrounding area.

The building has been repeatedly targeted by Russian forces and suffered even more extensive damage in this latest attack.

A nearby apartment block also sustained heavy damage - its entrance was completely destroyed, and facades of adjacent buildings were cut by shrapnel and broken glass.

Prokudin reported that two men, aged 74 and 68, were injured and are currently under medical supervision. Thanks to swift action by emergency responders, four people were rescued from a basement at the scene. They did not require hospitalization.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has responded to the deadly drone strike on Pryluky, where a Russian-launched “Shahed” drone hit the home of a local fire department chief, killing his wife, daughter (a patrol police officer), and one-year-old grandson.

“The rescue operation lasted all night. Unfortunately, there are wounded and dead,” Zelensky wrote on Telegram. “One of the rescuers arrived to eliminate the consequences right at his house: it turned out that it was his house that was hit by the ‘Shahed.’ Unfortunately, his wife, daughter and one-year-old grandson died.”

Zelensky said the one-year-old was the 632nd child killed since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“My condolences to all relatives and friends. Russia is constantly trying to buy time for itself to continue the killings. When it does not feel strong enough condemnation and pressure from the world, it kills again,” he wrote.

The president said Russia launched 103 drones and one ballistic missile overnight, striking multiple regions, including Donetsk, Kharkiv, Odesa, Sumy, Chernihiv, Dnipro, and Kherson.

“This is another massive strike by terrorists - Russian terrorists - who kill our people every night,” Zelensky said. “This is another reason to impose maximum sanctions and put pressure on everyone together.”

Zelensky called for stronger international action, particularly from the US and Europe.

“Ukraine expects action from the United States, Europe, and everyone in the world who can really help change these terrible circumstances,” he said.

“Strength matters, and the end of the war can only happen through force. We need to put pressure on Moscow with all available tools and step by step deprive it of the opportunity to continue this aggression.”

This news story may be updated as more information becomes available.