Kyiv under fire: Russia’s barrage follows Ukraine’s bold attack on fleet

Russia launched a heavy and persistent assault on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, overnight into Friday, June 6, 2025, using a combination of missiles and drones.

The attacks resulted in a series of loud explosions across the city, as reported by Reuters journalists present at the scene.

By the early hours of Friday, Kyiv authorities confirmed that four civilians had been killed.

Also, another 20 injured, with 16 of the wounded requiring hospitalization.

Kyiv’s mayor, Vitali Klitschko, announced via Telegram that the search and rescue operations were still underway at multiple sites throughout the city.

The bombardment disrupted public transportation, including the metro system.

According to the city’s military administration, one of the strikes directly hit a train traveling between two stations, causing operational delays and damage to the infrastructure.

In addition to the metro disruption, the aerial attack ignited fires in residential areas across various districts of Kyiv.

Local officials stated that several buildings were damaged by the blasts and drone debris.

The strikes came just days after Russia threatened retaliation for a Ukrainian drone offensive that targeted Russia’s bomber fleet.

During the night, Reuters reporters noted the distinct buzzing of Russian “kamikaze” drones overhead.

It was followed by the sounds of Ukraine’s air defense systems firing in response.

Powerful explosions echoed across the city, some strong enough to shake windows far from the immediate impact zones.

One particularly large blaze was observed at the site of a drone strike.

Ukraine’s air force confirmed that the assault involved drones as well as Kalibr cruise missiles.

Tymur Tkachenko reported that drones had directly hit the upper floors of a high-rise apartment complex in the Darnytskyi district, which lies on the east side of Kyiv.

Tkachenko is head of Kyiv’s military administration,

The strike caused a fire and raised the possibility of emergency power outages in that part of the city.

An unofficial Telegram channel also reported that a shopping mall in the same area had caught fire.

Meanwhile, in a western district of the city, another apartment building was affected by a separate blaze.

Tkachenko noted that drone wreckage had been located in three different districts, further indicating the wide scope of the attack.

This latest assault followed one of the most daring operations in the ongoing war: a Ukrainian intelligence strike that successfully destroyed several of Russia’s strategic bombers.

These attacks, carried out last weekend, involved small quadrocopter drones that had been concealed in wooden sheds to evade detection.

In response to these developments, former U.S. President Donald Trump said that after speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the Kremlin appeared to be preparing a retaliatory move.

Although Trump did not disclose the nature of the planned response, he commented on the broader situation during remarks on Thursday.

Trump suggested that it might be more effective to allow the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to continue for a time rather than rush into peace negotiations.

He expressed skepticism about the success of diplomacy in the near term, remarking,

“Sometimes you’re better off letting them fight for a while and then pulling them apart.”

Trump also shared a metaphorical comparison he had used with Putin during their call, likening the situation to “two young children fighting like crazy in a park.”

His comments signaled a willingness to adopt a hands-off approach to the escalating war, at least temporarily, while tensions between the two nations continue to mount.

In sum, the Russian strike on Kyiv marked a severe escalation in the conflict, directly following Ukraine’s bold drone operations against Russian military assets.

The attack caused fatalities, widespread damage, fires, and disruptions in critical infrastructure, underlining the ongoing volatility of the war.

As Kyiv grapples with the aftermath, international attention is increasingly focused on how both sides, and global powers, will respond.

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