At least 17 dead, including a child, and over one hundred injured. This is the result of the massive attack launched by Russia during the night against several Ukrainian cities. Ballistic and cruise missiles and hundreds of drones hit Kiev, Dnipro, Kharkiv and numerous other regions of the country, causing fires, collapses, damage to civil and energy infrastructures and leaving thousands of people in uncertainty. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, it is one of the heaviest attacks in recent months. In fact, during the night Russia reportedly launched 656 drones and 73 missiles of different types against Ukrainian territory.
Kiev under attack: buildings hit, fires and blackouts
The capital was the main target of the offensive. Dozens of residential buildings and civil infrastructure were damaged in several neighborhoods of the city. The toll is four dead and over sixty injured, including some children. Fires broke out in numerous areas of Kiev after missiles and drones fell. Some buildings were severely damaged, while rescuers worked for hours among the rubble searching for any survivors.. Electricity outages were recorded in several neighborhoods. Particularly affected were the districts of Podilskyi, Obolonskyi, Solomianskyi, Darnytskyi, Shevchenkivskyi and Sviatoshynskyi. In the Podilskyi neighborhood, a nine-story building was hit by a double explosion and the authorities feared the presence of people trapped under the rubble. Commercial buildings, gas stations and numerous vehicles also burned.
Dnipro mourns nine victims, among them a child
The toll in Dnipro was even heavier, where nine people lost their lives, including a child. At least 35 injured. Local authorities spoke of a “difficult night” for the city. A four-storey residential building was largely destroyed and emergency teams continued search and rescue operations throughout the day. According to Zelensky, six people are still missing. Damage was also reported to commercial activities, workshops, private vehicles and a fire station.
Kharkiv and other regions of the country were also affected
The attacks were not limited to Kiev and Dnipro. Russian forces also struck Kharkiv, where critical infrastructure and energy facilities were damaged. Raids and damage were also reported in the Kiev, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Poltava, Sumy, Chernihiv and Khmelnytskyi regions. Over 500 operators from the Ukrainian State Emergency Service were mobilized to deal with the emergency.
Zelensky’s appeal to the allies
Commenting on the attack, the Ukrainian president renewed his call for more military aid from Western allies. «Overnight, Russia launched 656 attack drones and 73 missiles of various types against our citizens: ballistic, cruise, anti-ship», he wrote on social media. For Zelensky, the bombing represents “an absolutely transparent statement from Russia: if Ukraine is not protected from ballistic attacks and other missiles, these attacks will continue.” The leader of Kiev then added: «Europe needs its own anti-missile defense, so that this war can finally end. And US help in supplying missiles to the Patriots is badly needed». In a recent interview, Zelensky also argued that there was a “window of opportunity” to reach a negotiated solution to the conflict by next winter and indicated London, Paris and Berlin as possible European interlocutors in future talks.
Moscow: «Military targets hit»
For its part, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that it had conducted a “massive attack” during the night, using drones, missiles launched from land, sea and air, including hypersonic missiles. Moscow claims it has exclusively targeted defense industry facilities, fuel depots, transport infrastructure and military airports in Kiev, Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Khmelnytsky and Sumy regions.
Attacks also in Russia
In the same hours, an oil refinery in the town of Ilsky, in the Russian territory of Krasnodar, was hit by Ukrainian drones causing a fire. According to the Russian authorities there were no victims. Moscow also declared that it shot down 148 drones launched by Ukraine against several regions of the Federation overnight. In the Kursk region, however, a civilian died after a drone hit a car.
The Italian reactions
The escalation of the conflict was also commented on by Italian institutions on the day of the Republic Day celebrations.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reiterated the need for a European role in future negotiations and for a strengthening of common security. “The safer we are, the more we defend peace,” declared the deputy prime minister, adding: “If we don’t want to always be at the risk of the United States, we must also guarantee our security as Europeans on our own.” Tajani said he was in favor of strengthening the European pillar of NATO and, in perspective, the construction of a common European army. On the future of Ukraine in the European Union, he confirmed Italian support, while recalling the need to respect all the requirements for membership.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto also drew attention to the new threats affecting Western democracies. «Today the borders to be defended are not only geographical ones: they are those of cyberspace, of space, of critical infrastructures, of energy networks, of technologies, of fake news, on which our security and our freedom depend».
Mattarella: «There cannot be true peace»
In his message for June 2, the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella also addressed the conflicts that continue to threaten international stability. «There cannot be true peace as long as hotbeds of threat remain and there cannot be true well-being if even just a part of humanity is forced to live in precariousness.». Words that arrive while the war in Ukraine continues to claim victims and while international diplomacy tries, amidst many difficulties, to reopen a space for dialogue.
