Russia strikes Kyiv and Dnipro in 'new paradigm' assault, killing at least 22
Russian missiles and drones killed at least 22 people in Kyiv and Dnipro on Tuesday as the Kremlin said the war had entered a 'different paradigm', blaming what it called Ukrainian acts of terror.
The attack
In the early hours of 2 June, Russia launched 73 missiles and 656 drones against Ukraine, targeting Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv and Kamianske. Air defences shot down 40 missiles and 602 drones, according to the Ukrainian air force. The Russian defence ministry said the strikes hit military‑industrial sites and critical infrastructure. It was the third major attack on Kyiv in less than a month.
- Missiles launched
- 73 units
- Missiles intercepted
- 40 units
- Drones launched
- 656 units
- Drones intercepted
- 602 units
Civilian toll
At least 22 people were killed and more than 130 wounded, including children. In Dnipro, a missile destroyed a residential building, killing 16; local mayor Boris Filatov said fragmentation munitions were used to maximise civilian casualties. In Kyiv, mayor Vitali Klitschko reported seven dead and 90 injured, with 52 hospitalised. Over 41,000 people, including 4,500 children, sheltered in the Kyiv metro overnight – a record number. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres condemned the attack, saying strikes on civilians are prohibited under international law.
We couldn't understand what was happening - some kind of apocalypse?
Moscow’s framing
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the war had entered a “different paradigm” because of what he called “inhumane acts of terror” by Ukraine against civilians. He pointed to a 22 May Ukrainian drone strike on a student dormitory in Russian‑controlled Luhansk that killed 21 people. Ukraine denies targeting the dorm, saying it was aiming for a nearby drone command centre. Peskov said Russia was systematically striking military targets in Kyiv and other cities and that the peace process was on hold. He added that Moscow remained in contact with the United States.
- Ukrainian drone hits dorm in Luhansk, killing 21; Kyiv denies targeting civilians
- Moscow announces imminent air campaign against Ukrainian government decision centres
- Russia fires 73 missiles and 656 drones on Ukraine, killing at least 22
If the Kyiv regime is consciously committing such inhumane acts of terror against civilians, against children, then this is an entirely different paradigm.
Zelenskiy’s plea for air defence
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy warned on Tuesday evening that Russian forces could attack again overnight, citing intelligence. He urged citizens to heed air raid alerts and said Ukraine’s air defences “do not allow us to intercept a significant part of the missiles”. He again called for the US to send additional Patriot missile interceptors. Foreign minister Andrii Sibiga accused Vladimir Putin of having “no cards left but terror” and argued that Moscow is losing on the battlefield.
If Ukraine is not protected from ballistic and other missile attacks, these attacks will continue.
Stalled diplomacy and territorial shifts
US‑mediated peace talks have stalled, with Washington’s attention shifting to Iran. Russia says it remains open to negotiations on the condition that Ukraine withdraws from four annexed regions. Meanwhile, Ukraine recaptured 282 km² of its territory from Russian forces in May, marking the second consecutive month of shrinking Russian‑controlled zones, according to an AFP analysis of ISW data.
