Massive Russian strikes hit Kyiv, killing at least five; fears of trapped residents
Kyiv has been hit by a large wave of overnight Russian strikes, resulting in at least five deaths and fears of people trapped in apartment building rubble.
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Kyiv experienced a significant overnight assault on June 2, 2026, as Russia launched a substantial wave of drone and missile strikes, leading to fatalities and widespread damage. Multiple residential and commercial structures were impacted across the city, sparking fires and incinerating vehicles. Notably, an apartment block in the Podilsky district partially collapsed following a "double tap" strike, with fears that residents were trapped beneath the debris.
Emergency services responded to the chaotic scenes, including a suspected missile strike on a 24-story residential building in the Shevchenkivskyi district that caused a fire, and a nine-story building in Podil that caught fire after being hit by falling debris. At least one person was reported killed and 14 wounded in the city, with the attacks also causing power outages in three districts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had previously warned citizens of a potential "massive" Russian strike, with intelligence indicating such an assault had been prepared. The strikes extended beyond Kyiv, resulting in at least four additional deaths and 24 injuries in other regions of Ukraine, including Dnipro and Kharkiv.
What each outlet emphasizes
- CNN: Kyiv hit by large wave of Russian strikes, people feared trapped in apartment building rubble
- BBC: Massive overnight Russian strikes hit Ukraine killing at least five, thousands ran for shelter
- The Guardian: Ukraine war briefing: Ending war before winter ‘correct and realistic’, says senior Kyiv aide