Russia Launches New Wave of Drone Strikes on Ukraine, Killing Three and Injuring Dozens

Tone & Political Bias: Center

Why: The report presents events using official statements from both Ukrainian and Russian sources, avoids editorializing, and reflects factual updates without assigning blame or moral judgment.

What Happened

Russia launched a large-scale overnight drone assault on Ukraine, killing at least three civilians and injuring dozens more. The attacks struck multiple regions, including Donetsk, Kherson, and Kharkiv, amid ongoing international pressure on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire.

The Scale Of The Attack

The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia deployed 63 drones and decoys during the night.
Of those, 28 drones were shot down, and another 21 were neutralized through jamming.
Russian drone and missile strikes have intensified in recent days, with nearly 500 drones launched on Monday and 315 drones and seven missiles on Tuesday.

Civilian Casualties And Damage

In Donetsk, two people were killed and six injured over the last 24 hours, according to Ukraine’s police.
In Kherson, which remains partly under Russian control, one person was killed and 14 others were wounded.
In Kharkiv, 15 people were injured in drone attacks, including four children. Local officials said the drones hit residential neighborhoods, kindergartens, and other civilian infrastructure.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov stated, “Kharkiv is holding on. People are alive. And that is the most important thing.”

Ukrainian Retaliation And Russian Response

Ukraine responded with drone raids of its own.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have intercepted 52 Ukrainian drones early Thursday.
Of those, 41 were shot down over the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine.
Belgorod’s governor reported that three civilians were injured in the Ukrainian attacks.

Political Context And Stalled Ceasefire

The strikes follow a recent round of negotiations in Istanbul on June 2, where both sides exchanged memorandums but remained far apart on key terms.

Ukrainian and Russian negotiators put forward incompatible proposals, with neither side seeing the other's position as acceptable.
As a result, prospects for an immediate ceasefire remain low.

Ukrainian Calls For Stronger Sanctions

During a meeting with Southeast European leaders in Odesa, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed for tighter EU sanctions on Russian oil exports.

He urged the EU to reduce the oil price cap from $60 to $30 per barrel, arguing that only then would it significantly impact Moscow's decision-making.

German Support For Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius made an unannounced visit to Kyiv on Thursday.

He described the escalating Russian attacks as a signal that Moscow is not currently interested in peace.
Pistorius emphasized continued German support, including future cooperation in defense production and industrial aid.

His visit aimed to reaffirm the commitment of Germany’s new government to Ukraine's defense and recovery efforts.

Frontline Situation

Fighting remains active along Ukraine’s eastern and northeastern front lines, which stretch over 1,000 kilometers.
These regions face daily Russian assaults using exploding drones and glide bombs.
Despite growing international calls for de-escalation, the battlefield remains active and volatile on both sides.