Russia unleashes devastating barrage of missiles and drones across Ukraine, killing civilians in what Moscow claims is justified retaliation for Ukrainian “terrorist acts.”
Key Takeaways
- Russia launched a massive attack involving hundreds of drones and missiles targeting multiple Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, resulting in civilian casualties and infrastructure damage
- Moscow claims these strikes were retaliation for Ukrainian “terrorist acts,” specifically recent drone attacks that destroyed Russian bomber aircraft
- President Trump suggested letting the countries “fight for a while” before seeking peace, while President Zelenskyy called for international pressure on Russia to end the war
- The conflict continues to escalate with both sides conducting cross-border attacks on military targets
- North Korea has pledged “unconditional support” to Russia, further complicating the geopolitical landscape
Russia’s Massive Aerial Assault
Russia has unleashed what military officials are calling a “massive strike” against multiple Ukrainian targets, employing a sophisticated arsenal of high-precision weapons including cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and attack drones. The extensive bombardment targeted several Ukrainian regions, with Kyiv suffering significant damage as explosions and fires erupted across multiple districts of the capital city. Ukrainian emergency services reported civilian casualties, including deaths and injuries, as they conducted rescue operations in the aftermath of the devastating assault.
The scope of the attack was particularly severe, with reports indicating a 16-story residential building in Kyiv caught fire and a metal warehouse was also engulfed in flames. Infrastructure damage extended to metro tracks, though fortunately no injuries were reported in that specific incident. The cities of Ternopil and Lutsk were also heavily targeted, with Ternopil experiencing what local officials described as its “most massive air attack to date,” resulting in damage to homes, schools, and government facilities.
Explosions in Brynask, Russia: As Putin’s Trump-heralded “retaliation” hits Ukraine (so far no worse than any other big attack), Ukraine appears to be continuing to go after Russian missile launchers. Now threat of ballistic missile attack on Kyiv, which was hit earlier by drones pic.twitter.com/QmyV6N5GiM
— Euan MacDonald (@Euan_MacDonald) June 5, 2025
Moscow’s Justification: “Response to Terrorism”
The Russian defense ministry has explicitly framed these attacks as retaliation, claiming they were conducted “in response to terrorist acts by the Kyiv regime.” This narrative follows accusations from the Kremlin that Ukraine has been engaging in state-sponsored terrorism, particularly after recent Ukrainian drone strikes successfully targeted and destroyed Russian bomber aircraft at military airbases inside Russian territory. Putin had previously warned of severe consequences for these actions, and these massive strikes appear to be the fulfillment of that promise.
“In response to terrorist acts by the Kyiv regime, the Russian armed forces overnight launched a massive strike with high-precision long-range air-, sea- and ground-based weapons, as well as attack drones,” stated Moscow’s defence ministry.
The escalation follows a pattern of increasing hostilities, with both sides launching increasingly bold cross-border attacks. Ukraine has been systematically targeting Russian military infrastructure, while Russia has responded with broader attacks that have frequently impacted civilian areas. The international atomic energy agency reported gunfire near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, likely targeting drones, highlighting the dangerous proximity of combat operations to critical nuclear infrastructure.
International Reactions and Peace Prospects
President Trump weighed in on the conflict with his characteristic straightforward assessment, suggesting that sometimes warring parties need to “fight for a while” before diplomatic solutions become viable. He compared the situation to “two young children fighting like crazy in a park,” indicating his belief that the conflict may need to run its course before meaningful peace can be achieved. Recent peace talks in Istanbul ended without any breakthrough, with Russia rejecting calls for an unconditional ceasefire.
“Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart,” said President Trump.
In stark contrast, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for immediate and forceful international intervention to pressure Russia into ending hostilities. His appeal underscores the increasingly desperate situation facing Ukrainian civilians who continue to bear the brunt of these escalating attacks. Meanwhile, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged “unconditional support” for Russia during a meeting with Russian security official Sergei Shoigu, further complicating the geopolitical dimensions of the conflict.
“Now is the moment when America, Europe and everyone in the world together can stop this war by putting pressure on Russia. If someone does not put pressure and allows the war more time to take lives, this is complicity and responsibility,” urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Escalating Tit-for-Tat Strategy
The pattern of attacks and counter-attacks has intensified in recent weeks, with both sides claiming their actions are defensive or retaliatory in nature. Russia asserts it shot down 174 Ukrainian drones and intercepted Neptune missiles over the Black Sea, while Ukraine continues to target Russian military installations. The scale of Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities has notably increased, with a significant attack in late May killing at least 12 people – a troubling indicator of the conflict’s intensifying lethality.
This latest escalation demonstrates that despite ongoing diplomatic efforts, both sides remain committed to military solutions. With North Korea now openly supporting Russia and Western nations continuing to back Ukraine, the conflict shows worrying signs of expanding beyond a regional dispute into a broader geopolitical confrontation. The civilians caught in the crossfire continue to pay the heaviest price as international pressure fails to bring the warring parties to a sustainable peace agreement.
