Kyiv, 2 June 2026 – The Russian Federation launched another overnight large-scale attack using hundreds of long-range missiles and drones, killing and injuring civilians in urban centers across Ukraine and damaging civilian homes, businesses and infrastructure, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine (HRMMU) said today.
The large-scale attack on Kyiv followed several recent public statements by Russian authorities warning of “consistent and systemic” strikes against targets in the city.
Ukrainian authorities have reported that the overnight attack killed at least 22 civilians, including two children, and injured 145, including eight children.
HRMMU teams visited sites in Kyiv and Dnipro where civilians were killed and injured overnight and spoke with victims and witnesses.
"Though civilians took protective measures and sought shelter, the attack killed at least 22 civilians and injured 145, including children" said Danielle Bell, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine. "The loss of life, injuries, and damage to civilian infrastructure underscore the foreseeable human cost of using explosive weapons in populated areas."
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russian Federation launched 656 long-range drones and 73 missiles during the overnight attack. Ukrainian armed forces intercepted many of the weapons, but 30 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and 33 long-range drones struck 38 locations, according to the authorities.
Russian authorities issued a statement saying that the attacks were in response to Ukraine’s attack last week in Starobilsk, Luhansk region, which reportedly killed 21 civilians.
Kyiv and Dnipro were among the cities most heavily affected by the attack. Explosions were also reported in the regions of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Poltava, and Kharkiv.
Air raid alerts remained in effect throughout much of the night, with explosions continuing in Kyiv until around 7:00 am.
"Our team visited impact sites today in Dnipro and Kyiv, where rescue operations were still ongoing amid reports that people may remain trapped under the rubble," she added. “People were really terrified during the night as they were sitting in shelters for hours, listening to the explosions outside.”
One woman living in a nine-story residential building in Kyiv recounted the shock she experienced when an explosion nearby damaged her building. “I heard this sound, like wind, and that’s all I recall. The next thing I remember, I saw my husband lying in bed, covered in shattered glass. Only then did I realize that my own arm was fractured.”
HRMMU monitors also documented damage to businesses, including a car dealership, small shops, and a petrol station, as well as damage to healthcare and educational facilities.
Among those reportedly killed was an emergency worker responding to the initial strike, highlighting the risks faced by emergency workers assisting civilians in the aftermath of attacks, HRMMU said.
The increased use of long-range missiles and drones has been a major driver of civilian casualties in Ukraine. Civilian casualty figures so far in 2026 are approximately 20 per cent higher than for the same period in 2025, largely due to the increased use of long-range weapons.
