In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russia launched a massive aerial attack targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure on June 1. The coordinated assault involved a barrage of missiles and drones, striking facilities in at least five Ukrainian regions, including Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk, Kirovohrad, and Ivano-Frankivsk. Despite the efforts of Ukrainian air defense forces, who shot down 35 missiles and 46 drones, the attacks caused significant damage to the energy facilities and led to fires across the targeted areas with no immediate reports of casualties but with some injuries reported in the Lviv region and damage to residential areas including the injury of 12 people in Kharkiv. This series of attacks marks the sixth major offensive against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure since March and represents a continuation of Russia’s strategy to weaken Ukraine’s energy capabilities and morale with the Ukrainian Ministry of Energy confirming the attacks and stating that repair work will begin after permission from the State Emergency Service. Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Bilous announced significant military losses for Ukraine in May, including over 35,000 soldiers and a number of vehicles and tanks. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged the escalation and downplayed Moscow’s threats, indicating support for Ukraine to target military sites within Russia. The Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs reported injuries in the Lviv region due to the attacks and stated that the enemy drones entered the region’s airspace around 4 am. The Lviv Regional Military Administration warned of a high threat to several areas. Additionally, the National Police reported that during the massive attack, the Dnipro Hydroelectric Station was blocked. In Ivano-Frankivsk region, a fire broke out due to the attack. In total, Russia launched 100 rockets and kamikaze drones at Ukraine on June 1, with Ukrainian air defense forces shooting down 81 enemy targets.
Key points
- Russia’s extensive missile and drone attacks targeted Ukraine’s energy facilities across five regions, leading to widespread damage and fires.
- Ukrainian air defense forces shot down a significant number of the 100 rockets and kamikaze drones launched in the assault, highlighting the ongoing air defense efforts.
- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg signals support for Ukraine’s right to target military sites within Russia amid the escalating conflict.
- Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense reports substantial military losses in May, underscoring the heavy toll of the war.
- The attacks resulted in injuries and damage to residential areas, emphasizing the human cost of the conflict.
